The fer-de-lance, known in Spanish as barba amarilla (“yellow chin”), is a pit viper (subfamily Crotalinae)—i.e., distinguished by a small sensory pit between each eye and nostril. It has a broad triangular head and is usually about 1.2 to 2 metres (4 to 7 feet) long.

What happens if you get bit by a fer-de-lance?

Bothrops lanceolatus, notoriously named “Fer-de-Lance”, is the only endemic snake in Martinique. It is responsible of about 20-30 declared bites per year. Envenomation generally leads to swelling and pain, while occasionally, systemic signs and/or coagulopathy may appear.

Why is it called a fer-de-lance?

The name fer-de-lance is French (or possibly Créole), translating to "iron of the lance", "iron spear point" or simply "spearhead" or "lancehead".