Boiruna maculata

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Boiruna maculata
Boiruna maculata.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Boiruna
Species:
B. maculata
Binomial name
Boiruna maculata
(Boulenger, 1896)
Synonyms [2]
  • Oxyrhopus maculatusBoulenger, 1896

Boiruna maculata, also known commonly as a mussurana (along with several other snakes), is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to South America.

Contents

Description

B. maculata has smooth dorsal scales. Adults are uniformly black, both dorsally and ventrally. Juveniles are black dorsally, and red ventrally, with a red nuchal collar. [2]

Geographic range

B. maculata can be found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. [2]

Habitat

B. maculata is found in a variety of habitats including forest, savanna, shrubland, and desert. [1]

Behavior

B. maculata is terrestrial. [1]

Diet

B. maculata preys predominately upon snakes, but also upon fishes, lizards, birds, and small mammals. [1]

Reproduction

B. maculata is oviparous. [1] [2]

Venom

B. maculata is rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous), and it possesses a venom which is potentially dangerous to humans, especially children. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Arzamendia, V.; Fitzgerald, L.; Giraudo, A.; Williams, J.; Scrocchi, G. (2019). "Boiruna maculata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019 e.T15158518A15158527. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T15158518A15158527.en .
  2. 1 2 3 4 Boiruna maculata at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 8 October 2021.
  3. Santos-Costa, Maria Cristina dos; Outeiral, Arlete Ballestrin; D'Agostini, Fernanda Maurer; Cappellari, Lize Helena (2000). "Envenomation by the neotropical colubrid Boiruna maculata (Boulenger, 1896): a case report". Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo42 (5): 283–286. (in English, with an abstract in Portuguese).

Further reading