Xenodon pulcher

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Tricolor Hognose
Captive born Tri-color hognose snakes 2011 B line.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Xenodon
Species:
X. pulcher
Binomial name
Xenodon pulcher
(Jan, 1863)

Xenodon pulcher is a species of fossorial snake in the family Colubridae. It is found in southern South America.

Contents

Taxonomy

Xenodon pulcher was sometimes previously described as Lystrophis pulcher. [2] This genus describes the South American hognose snakes, which while similar in appearance to North American (Heterodon) and Madagascan (Leioheterodon) hognoses, are not closely related.

This snake's common names include tricolor hognose snake, banded hognose snake, culebra falsa, and false coral snake. [3] It is sometimes incorrectly called ringed hognose snake, the common name for Xenodon semicinctus. Both X. pulcher and X. semicinctus are similar in appearance, which may be the cause of naming confusion.

Description

This snake is distinguishable by its namesake upturned rostral scale and striking banded pattern of white stripes bordered with black on a red base. They use mimicry for defense, as they display the same colors and patterns as some venomous coral snakes. [4] When threatened, it may use a defensive display involving bluff strikes, neck flattening, and spastic movements similar to coral snakes. [5] While these snakes possess a relatively stocky body shape similar to Heterodon, they are usually somewhat smaller and slimmer. Female snakes grow up to 24 inches, while males stay smaller at 18–20 inches. Both have a lifespan of 7–8 years, considerably shorter than most hognose snakes. [4]

Xenodon pulcher are rear-fanged venomous like members of Heterodon. [3] While the latter have extremely mild venom that only causes minor pain and swelling in humans, some anecdotal evidence shows X. pulcher venom may be slightly more toxic.

Range

X. pulcher is primarily found in the Chaco bioregion, [3] extending through Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. Their range may extend into Chile and parts of southwestern Brazil. [6] This region is a dry, sandy environment on the eastern foothills of the Andes, characterized by dry scrubland, grasslands, and savannahs. [4] They are typically found near streams, as their diet consists mainly of amphibians (similar to other hognose snakes). [3]

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

The scarlet kingsnake or scarlet milk snake is a species of kingsnake found in the southeastern and eastern portions of the United States. Like all kingsnakes, they are nonvenomous. They are found in pine flatwoods, hydric hammocks, pine savannas, mesic pine-oak forests, prairies, cultivated fields, and a variety of suburban habitats; not unusually, people find scarlet kingsnakes in their swimming pools, especially during the spring. Until recently, and for much of the 20th century, scarlet kingsnakes were considered a subspecies of the milk snake; however, Pyron and Bubrink demonstrated the phylogenetic distinction of this species and its closer relationship to the mountain kingsnakes of the southwestern United States. These largely fossorial snakes are the smallest of all the species within the genus Lampropeltis, usually ranging from 40 to 50 cm at maturity. The maximum recorded length is in Jonesboro, AR 76.2 cm (30.0 in). Hatchlings range in size from 8 to 18 cm .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coral snake</span> Large group of elapid snakes

Coral snakes are a large group of elapid snakes that can be divided into two distinct groups, the Old World coral snakes and New World coral snakes. There are 27 species of Old World coral snakes, in three genera, and 83 recognized species of New World coral snakes, in two genera. Genetic studies have found that the most basal lineages have origins in Asia, suggesting that the group originated in the Old World. While new world species of both genera are venomous, their bites are seldom lethal; only two confirmed fatalities have been documented in the past 100 years from the genus Micrurus. Meanwhile, snakes of the genus Micruroides have never caused a medically significant bite.

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<i>Heterodon</i> Genus of snakes

Heterodon is a genus of harmless colubrid snakes endemic to North America. They are stout with upturned snouts and are perhaps best known for their characteristic threat displays. Three species are currently recognized. Members of the genus are commonly known as hognose snakes, hog-nosed snakes, North American hog-nosed snakes, and colloquially puff adders.

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

The eastern hog-nosed snake, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Colubridae. The venom is specifically adapted to amphibian prey and is harmless to humans. However, some people may have an allergic reaction, and experience local swelling and other symptoms. The species is endemic to North America. There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid. This species prefers habitats with sandy soils and a combination of grass fields and forest edges. They come in many different colorations and have the identifiable upturned "snout". They can be found in captivity but are a relatively difficult species to keep due to a specialized diet of toads. As with other Heterodon species, they have a distinctive threat reaction of first bluffing by striking with a closed mouth and then pretending to die if this fails to deter the threat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mexican milk snake</span> Subspecies of snake

Lampropeltis annulata, commonly known as the Mexican or Tamaulipan milksnake, is a non-venomous species of milksnake. The species is native to northwestern Mexico and some adjacent United States-Mexico border regions.

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

Micrurus tener, commonly known as the Texas coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to the southern United States and adjacent northeastern and central Mexico. Six subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies, Micrurus tener tener The species Micrurus tener was once considered to be a subspecies of the eastern coral snake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western hognose snake</span> Species of reptile

The western hognose snake is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America. There are three subspecies that are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.

<i>Micrurus fulvius</i> Species of snake

Micrurus fulvius, commonly known as the eastern coral snake, common coral snake, American cobra, and more, is a species of highly venomous coral snake in the family Elapidae.The Elapidae family also contains the cobras and sea snakes. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States. It should not be confused with the scarlet snake or scarlet kingsnake, which are harmless mimics. No subspecies are currently recognized.

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

Heterodon simus, commonly known as the southern hog-nosed snake, is a harmless snake species endemic to the southeastern United States. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Micrurus nigrocinctus</i> Species of snake

Micrurus nigrocinctus, commonly known as the Central American coral snake, is a species of a highly venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Latin America from southern Mexico, Central America, to north Colombia. There are six recognized subspecies, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Aipysurus duboisii, also known commonly as Dubois' sea snake and the reef shallows sea snake, is a species of extremely venomous snake in the subfamily Hydrophiinae of the family Elapidae. Its geographic range includes Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and the northern, eastern and western coastal areas of Australia, that is the Coral Sea, Arafura Sea, Timor Sea and Indian Ocean. It lives at depths up to 80 meters in coral reef flats, sandy and silty sediments which contain seaweed, invertebrates and corals or sponges that can serve as shelter. It preys upon moray eels and various fish that live on the seafloor, up to 110 cm in size. A. duboisii is viviparous, giving birth to live young rather than laying eggs. It displays medium aggressiveness, i.e., will bite if provoked, but not spontaneously. The fangs are 1.8 mm long, which are relatively short for a snake, and the venom yield is 0.43 mg. Aipysurus duboisii is a crepuscular species, meaning that it is most active at dawn and dusk.

<i>Leioheterodon madagascariensis</i> Species of snake

Leioheterodon madagascariensis, the Malagasy, Madagascar or Madagascangiant hognose(snake), is a harmless species of pseudoxyrhophiid snake endemic to the island nation of Madagascar. The species is also found on the country's smaller islands of Nosy Be, Nosy Mangabe, and Nosy Sakatia, as well as on the Comoros archipelago, in the Mozambique Channel. It is thought, by some, to have been introduced to the Grande Comoro. Mature giant hognose snakes can measure between 130 and 180 cm (4 ft. to nearly 6 ft., or between 1-2 meters) in length, and be roughly the thickness of an average adult human's arm.

<i>Xenodon</i> Genus of snakes

Xenodon is a genus of New World snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae.

<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>Xenodon dorbignyi</i> Species of snake

Xenodon dorbignyi, the South American hognose snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to southern South America. There are four recognized subspecies.

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

Xenodon semicinctus, the ringed hognose snake, is a species of snake in the family, Colubridae. It is found in Argentina and Bolivia.

References

  1. Scrocchi, G. (2017). "Xenodon pulcher". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T15183645A15183668. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. "Xenodon pulcher". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Captive Husbandry of Xenodon pulcher". The Herpetoculture Network. 2021-06-05. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  4. 1 2 3 David, Johnathan (2022-04-23). "Tricolor Hognose: Care Guide & Species Profile". Everything Reptiles. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  5. Love, Kathy (2018-01-25). "Is The Tricolor Hognose Snake The Next Big Thing?". Reptiles Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  6. "Banded Hognose Snake (Xenodon pulcher)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2022-06-17.