My photograph of an eyelash viper from Costa Rica was featured on the Discovery Channel across all of its social media platforms on World Snake Day, July 16, 2026. The post was shared on Discovery Channel’s social media accounts, which together reach over 65 million followers worldwide.

The Discovery Channel’s caption read: “Slithering into #WorldSnakeDay. Did you know the venomous eyelash viper from Costa Rica belongs to a group of pit vipers, known for their heat-sensing ability which helps them detect their prey.”

Photo credit: Ronen Tivony.

Eyelash Viper Costa Rica: The Image Featured on Discovery Channel

The eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) is one of the most striking reptile subjects in Costa Rica. The image featured on Discovery Channel was photographed during a wildlife photography workshop in late June 2026.

The eyelash viper gets its name from a row of modified supraocular scales above its eyes that project upward, resembling eyelashes. These scales are the species’ most distinctive field mark. The species also displays an extraordinary range of color morphs, including green, yellow, gold, gray, brown, orange, and pink, making it one of the most visually variable snakes in Central America.

It is a venomous species with a hemotoxic venom that primarily affects the blood and tissues, causing intense local pain, swelling, blistering, and in serious cases, coagulopathy. Its fangs are exceptionally long relative to its body size. It is not an aggressive snake and will not strike unless directly disturbed or handled. For wildlife photographers, a patient and respectful approach allows for close observation without provoking a defensive response.

Eyelash Viper Costa Rica: The Pit Viper Heat-Sensing System

As Discovery Channel’s caption notes, the eyelash viper Costa Rica belongs to the pit vipers, a group defined by a remarkable sensory adaptation: heat-sensing pit organs located between the eye and the nostril on each side of the head.

These loreal pit organs detect infrared radiation emitted by any object warmer than its surroundings. They function independently of sight and smell, giving the snake a thermal picture of its environment in complete darkness. The pit organs are paired and provide directional information, giving the snake what researchers have described as thermal rangefinder capabilities. This allows the eyelash viper to strike with precision at warm-blooded prey in the dense, low-light conditions of the rainforest canopy at night.

The eyelash viper is an ambush predator. It coils on a branch or palm frond and waits, sometimes for days, for prey to come within range. Its prehensile tail grips the vegetation, anchoring the body while the front half strikes. It feeds on small mammals, birds, lizards, and frogs. Diet shifts with age: juveniles take more small reptiles and amphibians, while adults more frequently target birds and small mammals.

Where to Find the Eyelash Viper in Costa Rica

The eyelash viper is widely distributed across Costa Rica, found from sea level to approximately 1,500 meters altitude. It occurs in rainforests, cloud forests, and tropical dry forests on both the Caribbean and Pacific slopes. It favors moist lowland and foothill forests, particularly in areas with dense vegetation near water.

The species is nocturnal and arboreal. Daytime sightings are possible when the snake is found resting coiled on vegetation. The best opportunities for photography come on night walks in productive rainforest habitat. The Boca Tapada area in the San Carlos canton of Alajuela province is one of the most reliably productive locations in Costa Rica for eyelash viper encounters. Extensive lowland rainforest, wetlands, and high humidity create ideal conditions for the species year-round.

Tips for Photographing the Eyelash Viper in Costa Rica

Go out at night. The eyelash viper is most active from late evening through early morning. Night walks starting around 8pm in productive habitat give you the best chance of finding an active snake.

Look at mid-height vegetation. Eyelash vipers are arboreal and typically found coiled on branches, palm fronds, and shrubs between one and three meters above the ground. Scan systematically through the vegetation at this height rather than at ground level only.

Watch for the eye shine. At night, a headlamp will produce a bright eye shine from a coiled eyelash viper. The eyes are round and gold-colored with vertical pupils. This reflection is often the first thing you see before the body becomes visible.

Use a long lens or macro lens with a teleconverter. Working at a safe distance allows for frame-filling detail without approaching the snake closely enough to cause a defensive response.

Move slowly and never handle the snake. The eyelash viper strikes instantly if contacted directly. Observe and photograph from a respectful distance. A calm approach produces better images and a safer experience for both photographer and animal.

Part of an Ongoing Costa Rica Publication Series

The eyelash viper Costa Rica Discovery Channel feature is the latest in a series of major publications from my late June 2026 Costa Rica workshop. Recent features include two Guardian publications and a leading image on MSN, all from the same trip.

Read about the Guardian Week in Wildlife keel-billed toucan feature.

Read about the red-eyed tree frog Guardian feature.

I lead small-group and private wildlife photography workshops in Costa Rica and across Florida. For workshop dates and availability, visit the workshops page or contact me directly.

About Ronen

Ronen Tivony is a wildlife photojournalist, Florida Master Naturalist, and photography workshop leader based in Florida. His images have appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, CNN, National Geographic, BBC, TIME, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post, among others.

To book a workshop or inquire about private photography instruction, contact Ronen here or call/text 786-540-9194.