Spilotes sulphureus

Last updated

Spilotes sulphureus
Spilotes sulphureus 56346884.jpg
Spilotes sulphureus in defensive posture at Murici Ecological Station, Brazil
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Spilotes
Species:
S. sulphureus
Binomial name
Spilotes sulphureus
(Wagler, 1824)
Synonyms [2]

Spilotes sulphureus, commonly known as the yellow-bellied hissing snake or Amazon puffing snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Colubridae. It is widely distributed throughout South America, as well as the Caribbean island of Trinidad. [3]

Contents

Taxonomy

Originally placed in the genus Pseustes , it is now considered in the genus Spilotes.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. [2]

Nota bene : A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was original described in a genus other than Spilotes.

Description

S. sulphureus is a large snake, which can grow up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) in total length (including tail). [3] Its venom is bimodal and can directly affect both mammal and reptile prey. [4]

Diet

Adults of S. sulphureus feed on small mammals, birds and other snakes (both venomous and non-venomous), while juveniles feed on lizards, mice and rats. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boomslang</span> Species of snake

The boomslang is a highly venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to Sub-Saharan Africa.

<i>Spilotes pullatus</i> Species of snake

Spilotes pullatus, commonly known as the chicken snake, tropical chicken snake, or yellow rat snake, is a species of large nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to the Neotropics.

<i>Phrynonax poecilonotus</i> Species of snake

Phrynonax poecilonotus is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the New World.

<i>Leptodeira annulata</i> Species of snake

The banded cat-eyed snake is a species of mildly venomous, rear-fanged, colubrid snake, endemic to the New World.

<i>Oxyrhopus petolarius</i> Species of snake

Oxyrhopus petolarius, commonly known as the forest flame snake, is a species of mildly venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Central and South America. There are three recognized subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal ground snake</span> Species of snake

The royal ground snake is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to northern South America.

<i>Erythrolamprus aesculapii</i> Species of snake

Erythrolamprus aesculapii, also known commonly as the Aesculapian false coral snake, the South American false coral snake, and in Portuguese as bacorá, or falsa-coral, is a species of mildly venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-bellied black snake</span> Venomous snake native to eastern Australia

The red-bellied black snake is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae, indigenous to Australia. Originally described by George Shaw in 1794 as a species new to science, it is one of eastern Australia's most commonly encountered snakes. Averaging around 1.25 m in length, it has glossy black upperparts, bright red or orange flanks, and a pink or dull red belly. It is not aggressive and generally retreats from human encounters, but can attack if provoked. Although its venom can cause significant illness, no deaths have been recorded from its bite, which is less venomous than other Australian elapid snakes. The venom contains neurotoxins, myotoxins, and coagulants and has haemolytic properties. Victims can also lose their sense of smell.

<i>Bothrops asper</i> Species of snake

The terciopelo is a highly venomous species of New World pit viper, found at low to moderate elevations, from northeastern Mexico through Central and South America, where it is known to inhabit elevations as high as 2600 meters above sea level in the Colombian and Ecuadorian Andes, as well as Venezuela. With a mass of up to 6 kilograms (13 lb), and a maximal length of 2.5 metres (8.2 ft), the terciopelo is among the largest of the pit vipers. It is light to dark brown in color, often with yellowish, zig-zag patterning on either side of its body. Dubbed "the ultimate pit-viper" for its large size, fangs and potent venom yield, it has a fearsome reputation, and is one of the species responsible for the most envenomated snakebites within its range, largely due to its proximity to humans, livestock and pets. Nonetheless, like all venomous snakes, the terciopelo actively avoids all contact with humans and larger animals, with bites generally only occurring when the snake is cornered, pursued, or otherwise threatened in some capacity. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Bothrops leucurus</i> Species of snake

Bothrops leucurus, commonly known as the whitetail lancehead or the Bahia lancehead, is a species of venomous snake, a pit viper in the family Viperidae. The species is endemic to Brazil. There are no subspecies which are recognized as being valid. A female owned by YouTuber Venom Central is over six feet long.

<i>Echis</i> Genus of snakes

Echis is a genus of vipers found in the dry regions of Africa, the Middle East, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. They have a characteristic threat display, rubbing sections of their body together to produce a "sizzling" warning sound. The name Echis is the Latin transliteration of the Greek word for "viper" (ἔχις). Like all vipers, they are venomous. Their common name is "saw-scaled vipers" and they include some of the species responsible for causing the most snakebite cases and deaths in the world. Twelve species are currently recognized.

<i>Pseudechis</i> Genus of snakes

Pseudechis is a genus of venomous snakes in the family Elapidae. It contains the group of elapid species commonly referred to as the black snakes. Species of Pseudechis are found in every Australian state with the exception of Tasmania, and some species are found in Papua New Guinea. They inhabit a variety of habitat types, from arid areas to swampland. All species are dangerous and can inflict a potentially lethal bite. Most snakes in this genus reach about 2 m (6.6 ft) in total length, and vary in colour. Some species are brown, whereas others are black. The most recognisable and widespread species in the genus are the red-bellied black snake and the mulga snake. These snakes feed on lizards, frogs, birds, small mammals, and even other snakes. All species of Pseudechis lay eggs with the exception of the red-bellied black snake P. porphyriacus which is viviparous. The genus Pailsus is a synonym of Pseudechis, and more work is needed to understand species limits among the smaller species of the group.

<i>Telescopus</i> Genus of snakes

Telescopus, the Old World catsnakes, is a genus of 12 species of mildly venomous opisthoglyphous snakes in the family Colubridae.

<i>Calliophis bivirgatus</i> Species of snake

Calliophis bivirgatus is a species of snake in the family Elapidae known commonly as the blue coral snake or blue Malayan coral snake. It is native to Southeast Asia.

<i>Micruroides</i> Genus of snakes

Micruroides is a genus of venomous coral snake in the family Elapidae. The genus is monotypic, containing only the species Micruroides euryxanthus.

<i>Xenodon merremii</i> Species of snake

Xenodon merremii, also known commonly as Wagler's snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to South America and is widespread in the eastern half of the continent.

<i>Clelia clelia</i> Species of snake

Clelia clelia, commonly known as the mussurana, black mussurana or windward cribo, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to the New World.

<i>Pseustes</i> Genus of snakes

Pseustes was a genus of snakes of the family Colubridae.

<i>Spilotes</i> Genus of snakes

Spilotes is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. The genus is endemic to the New World.

References

  1. Gutiérrez-Cárdenas, Paul D.A.; Rivas, Gilson A.; Caicedo-Portilla, José R.; Gagliardi-Urrutia, Giuseppe; Gonzales A., Lucindo; Nogueira, Cristiano de Campos; Murphy, John C. "Spilotes sulphureus (Yellow-bellied Hissing Snake)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species : e.T15183770A15183779. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T15183770A15183779.en . Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 " "Spilotes sulphureus (WAGLER, 1824)". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 7 April 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. 1 2 3 Boos, Hans E.A. (2001). The Snakes of Trinidad and Tobago (PDF). College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press. ISBN   1-58544-116-3.
  4. Modahl, Cassandra M.; Mrinalini, null; Frietze, Seth; Mackessy, Stephen P. (2018). "Adaptive evolution of distinct prey-specific toxin genes in rear-fanged snake venom". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 285 (1884): 20181003. doi:10.1098/rspb.2018.1003. PMC   6111164 . PMID   30068680.

Further reading