Underwood's mussurana | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Colubridae |
Genus: | Clelia |
Species: | †C. errabunda |
Binomial name | |
†Clelia errabunda Underwood, 1993 | |
Underwood's mussurana or Saint Lucia cribo (Clelia errabunda) is an extinct species of snake in the family Dipsadidae. The species was formerly endemic to the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. It was originally thought to belong to the species Clelia clelia . Like other species of mussurana, it is known to have fed on other snakes; one museum specimen is preserved in the act of swallowing a Bothrops species. Its extinction is believed to have been caused by human activity.
It was mistakenly recorded as present on Dominica due to a cataloging error.
François Marie Daudin was a French zoologist.
Ophiophagy is a specialized form of feeding or alimentary behavior of animals which hunt and eat snakes. There are ophiophagous mammals, birds, lizards, and even other snakes, such as the Central and South American mussuranas and the North American common kingsnake. The venomous king cobra is also named for this habit.
Clelia is a genus of snakes, one of three genera with species with the common name mussurana or musurana. Clelia is a genus of large snakes in the family Colubridae. The genus is native to Central America and South America, and species of Clelia are found from southern Mexico to Brazil. They specialize in ophiophagy, i.e., they attack and eat other snakes. Currently seven species are recognized as being valid. They have other popular names in various countries, such as zopilota in Central America and cribo on some Caribbean islands.
Bothrops is a genus of highly venomous pit vipers endemic to the Neotropics. The generic name, Bothrops, is derived from the Greek words βόθρος, bothros, meaning 'pit', and ὄψ, ops, meaning 'eye' or 'face', together an allusion to the heat-sensitive loreal pit organs. Members of this genus are responsible for more human deaths in the Americas than any other group of venomous snakes. Currently, 48 species are recognized.
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.
The Saint Lucia whiptail, also known commonly as the Maria Islands whiptail, the Saint Lucian whiptail, and Vanzo's whiptail, is a species of lizard in the family Teiidae. The species is indigenous to the Caribbean.
Erythrolamprus ornatus, also known commonly as the ornate ground snake and the Saint Lucia racer, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to the eastern Caribbean. It is the rarest snake on earth with fewer than 20 left in the wild.
Gymnophthalmus pleii, known commonly as the Martinique spectacled tegu and the rough-scaled worm lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Gymnophthalmidae, a family known commonly as "microteiids". The species is found in the Caribbean, on the Lesser Antilles islands of Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, and Maria I.
Gymnophthalmus underwoodi, called commonly Underwood's spectacled tegu, is a species of microteiid lizard, which is found in South America and on certain Caribbean islands.
The St. Lucia threadsnake is a species of blind snake in the family Leptotyphlopidae. The species is native to the West Indies.
Anolis luciae, also known commonly as the St. Lucia anole or Saint Lucian anole, is a species of anole lizard in the family Dactyloidae. The species is endemic to Saint Lucia, an island-nation in the Caribbean Lesser Antilles.
The Saint Lucia lancehead or Saint Lucia pit viper is an endangered species of pit viper endemic to the island of Saint Lucia in the Lesser Antilles.
Clelia scytalina, commonly known as the Mexican snake eater or zopilota de altura, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the New World.
Dipsadinae is a large subfamily of colubroid snakes, sometimes referred to as a family (Dipsadidae). Species of the subfamily Dipsadinae are found in most of the Americas, including the West Indies, and are most diverse in South America. There are more than 700 member species.
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.
Mussurana is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. The genus is endemic to South America.
Mussurana bicolor, the two-colored mussurana, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to southern South America.