A large venomous Brazilian snake of the pit viper family, also known by other regional names.
From indigenous Brazilian languages, likely from Tupi origins. The name was preserved and transmitted through Portuguese colonial records as Europeans documented South American fauna during exploration and settlement.
The caiarara uses heat-sensing pits along its jaw to 'see' warm-blooded prey in absolute darkness—it's like having thermal imaging goggles built into your face, a superpower evolution gave to pit vipers that scientists are still studying.
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