Old Bank Travel Agency

14/07/2025

14/07/2025

Ik'bolay (Bothrops asper)

The fer-de-lance, widely known in Belize as the yellow-jaw tommygoff , Barba amarilla in spanish and Ik'bolay in Yucatec Maya is among one of Belize’s eight venomous snakes. The Ik'bolay can be distinguished by its cream to yellow colored labial scales as well as a brown skin with white-lined black saddles running vertically down its back. The Ik'bolay can grow up to 8.2 feet land . It can be found throughout Belize, inhabiting both pine and broadleaf forests, often seeking refuge underneath rocks, in crevices, and among clusters of leaves of woody debris. They are most active at night.

It is responsible for the highest number of deaths from a snake bite in the region. The males in particular can be aggressive, and will not hesitate to strike when it feels cornered and threatened. However, given enough space, it will flee rather than fight, and does NOT chase or pursue people.

Snakes play a vital role in ecology. They maintain prey populations, particularly of those that carry diseases, such as rats. Fer-de-lance specialize in hunting warm blooded prey such as rodents and birds. Its fangs inject hemotoxic venom into its prey, which quickly coagulates the blood and breaks down capillary walls causing internal bleeding and swelling.

Traditionally snakes are respected between the Yucatec Maya people . Some elders when seeing snakes inside a Maya temple they are seen as guardians of the place .

14/07/2025

14/07/2025

21/06/2025

Considering moving abroad permanently? Here’s how you can get that magical second passport. Click below to read more. ⬇️