The snake fauna of Brazil consists of a great diversity of species, some of which are venomous and can cause accidents due to poisoning, an important public health problem in the country. The venomous snakes are grouped in the families Viperidae and Elapidae, which have morphological characteristics that allow their recognition. The triangular shape of the head, the vertical pupil, the coloration and the presence of red rings are characteristics used for the identification of venomous snakes, although they are not exclusive characters of these animals.
This application is a tool to elucidate the difference between venomous and non-venomous snakes as well as assisting the recognition of the species of Minas Gerais. Morphological characters were easily observed, such as: presence or absence of an orifice between the eye and the nostril; rattle at the tip of the tail; smooth tail or with scales bristling at the tip. From the application of the application it is possible to identify snakes belonging to the family Viperidae of the genus Crotalus, Lachesis and Bothrops, as well as the recognition of non-venomous snakes of the families Boidae, Colubridae and Dipsadidae.
Seeking a solution to help in the correct identification of the venomous serpents of Minas Gerais, as well as to disseminate the knowledge about these animals, biologists of the Scientific Collection of Serpents of the Ezequiel Dias Foundation (Funed) make this application available.