In general, vipers contribute the most snakebites globally 9, 10, 11, 12, particularly in North and South America ( i.e., the New World) where pitvipers (subfamily Crotalinae) such as rattlesnakes ( Crotalus and Sistrurus), cantils ( Agkistrodon), and lanceheads ( Bothrops) are responsible for more than 98% of envenomations 9, 11, 12. Other families such as Atractaspididae, Colubridae, and Dipsadidae also contain species capable of inflicting medically significant bites however, they make up a small proportion of envenomations compared to vipers and elapids 9, 10, 11, 12. Most medically significant species ( i.e., those resulting in hospitalization, permanent injury, or death to humans) fall into one of two families: Viperidae (vipers) and Elapidae (elapids). Venomous snakes have a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every continent but Antarctica. Therefore, knowing which venomous snake species occur in a given area can inform snakebite risk analyses and inform medical treatment of snakebite 6, 7, 8. Snake venom can vary tremendously both between and within a single species 1, 2, 3, 4 and envenomation by venomous snakes (hereafter, snakebite) is regarded as a priority neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization due to the nearly 100,000 deaths and 400,000 disablements that occur globally every year 5. One group which highlights the importance of having well-described distributions is venomous snakes. The general public and citizen scientists utilize published distributions in field guides to assist with identification, government agencies utilize known distributions to better plan management strategies, and medical practitioners must maintain a working knowledge of dangerous taxa in their area to better treat patients afflicted during an encounter. Species distributions are also important to applied disciplines outside biology. Knowing where a species occurs is critical for understanding numerous aspects of biology including evolution, biogeography, ecology, and conservation. With these distributions, biologists can better understand the biogeography and conservation status of this group, researchers can better assess vulnerability to snakebite, and medical professionals can easily discern species found in their area. Therefore, to begin to address the need for updated fine-scale distributions, we created VenomMaps, a database and web application containing updated distribution maps and species distribution models for all species of New World pitvipers. Pitvipers (Viperidae: Crotalinae) are responsible for >98% of snakebites in the New World. However, recent studies highlighted the need for updated fine-scale distributions of venomous snakes. Envenomation by snakebite is considered a neglected tropical disease by the World Health Organization and venomous snake distributions are used to assess vulnerability to snakebite based on species occurrence and antivenom/healthcare accessibility. Venomous snakes are one group that highlight the importance of having accurate information given their cosmopolitan distribution and medical significance. Beyond providing critical information to biologists, species distributions are useful for naturalists, curious citizens, and applied disciplines including conservation planning and medical intervention.
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