Terciopelo, a deadly member of the Viperidae family, is responsible for 40% of all snake-related hospitalizations in Costa Rica. The Ticos, the colloquial name for Costa Ricans, learn early on to avoid the snake with brown triangles down its back. Its brown geometric patterns are outlined in white resembling an A, and its jaw a yellowish cream. These features of its texture morphology are critical warning signs to avoid this predator. The English translation of Terciopelo- velvet skin- is deceptively docile. Its strength as a predator contributes to its status as an apex predator of the cloud rainforest ecosystem. The terceiopelo’s impact extends beyond the forest, being one of the most significant contributors to plantation worker casualties in Costa Rica. It contributes to more human deaths than any other reptile in Central America.

Illadio Cruz, a Monteverde local, naturalist, and Costa Rican wildlife expert, has had two near-death encounters with venomous snakes. His first encounter meeting the fer-de-lance was initiated during a UC Education Abroad nature walk when his teaching assistant confused the infant terciopelo for a False-Terciopelo. Confusing the infant markings for another species, she had Illadio pick it up to show to the group. By the time he realized this mistake, it had dug its fangs into his forearm. This mistake incited a month-long endeavor spanning a ride on horseback, a boat, and a plane, culminating in a self-induced abscess drainage in a Puntarenas hospital bathroom. His teachings against misgivings were anything but an accident; they were an evolutionary invention. Many harmless species, like the false terciopelo, have evolved to resemble venomous counterparts—a strategy that hinges on texture and appearance. By imitating the texture and colors of a venomous snake, the harmless species has a selective advantage, utilizing that visual and sensory concept to exist in the ecosystem long enough to reproduce. 

Illadios' story speaks to the role of texture as a biological indicator. On the individual scale, texture as a part of an animal's morphology illustrates essential parts of its life history. On the ecosystem scale, it can have the power of capturing its vitality. With the rate at which our ecosystems are changing, texture will be an important broadscale indicator of ecosystem health. The morphology of texture is directly tied to the functions of its organism. Beyond its ecological role, it is the most visually compelling feature of wildlife for the anthropogenic audience. Thus, the importance of texture lies in its intersectionality with human perception and natural functions.