FER-DE-LANCE


Meaning of FER-DE-LANCE in English

(French; " spearhead ")

Extremely venomous pit viper (genus Bothrops ), found in diverse tropical American habitats, from cultivated lands to forests.

It has a broad, triangular head and is gray or brown, marked by a series of black-edged diamonds often bordered in a lighter colour. It is usually about 4–7 ft (1.2–2 m) long. Its bite can be fatal to humans. The name is sometimes applied to all members of the Central and South American genus Bothrops and to an Asian genus, Trimeresurus.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.