What feature characterizes the ventral surface of *Bothrops alternatus*?
Answer
A distinct dark brown to black stripe running from the neck to the tail tip.
When observing the underside, or ventral surface, of these Yarara species, significant differences exist that aid in identification. For *Bothrops alternatus*, the ventral coloration is marked by a continuous, conspicuous dark brown to black stripe. This stripe originates near the neck region and extends unbroken all the way down to the terminal end of the tail. This singular, prominent longitudinal mark serves as a reliable identifier for *B. alternatus* when the snake is viewed ventrally, distinguishing it clearly from *B. jararaca*, which typically exhibits a pale base color (pale green to pale yellow) mottled with scattered, irregular gray pigment blotches.
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