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It is the most dangerous snake of Central and South America, and causes more human deaths than any other American reptile. On average, a fer-de-lance injects 105mg of venom in one bite, although a venom yield of up to 310mg has been recorded while milking them. The fatal dose for a human is 50mg.

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.

The saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) may be the deadliest of all snakes, since scientists believe it to be responsible for more human deaths than all other snake species combined.

How deadly is a fer-de-lance? The death rate for people who do not receive anti-venom after they're bitten by a fer-de-lance is about 7 to 9 percent. But even if you don't die, the bite can cause such severe necrosis in a limb that you may need to get that limb amputated.Apr 28, 2022

The title “Fer-de-Lance” originally referred to the Martinique lancehead (Bothrops lanceolatus) found on the island of the same name in the West Indies. The common name has since been applied to the collective species of the Central and South American genus Bothrops.