Clelia scytalina (original) (raw)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Species of snake

Clelia scytalina
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Clelia
Species: C. scytalina
Binomial name
Clelia scytalina(Cope, 1867)[2]
Synonyms[3]
_Scolecophis scytalinus_Cope, 1867 Oxyrhopus proximusBocourt, 1897 Clelia clelia immaculataH.M. Smith, 1942 Clelia scytalina — Stuart, 1963

Clelia scytalina, commonly known as the Mexican snake eater[3] or zopilota de altura (highland mussarana),[4] is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the New World.

C. scytalina is found in Southern Mexico, Central America, and Colombia.[3]

The head of C. scytalina is somewhat distinct from the neck. The eye is moderate in size, with a vertically elliptical pupil. The body is cylindrical, and the tail is moderately long.[4]

The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 17 rows at midbody.[4]

The coloration of juveniles is completely different from that of adults. Juveniles have a black head, a yellow or white nuchal crossband (collar), and a red body. Juveniles are often mistaken for coral snakes and killed.[4] Adults are uniform bluish black dorsally, and cream-colored ventrally.[5]

C. scytalina is a terrestrial animal which inhabits old-growth and second-growth forests and their borders. Occasionally it is found in open areas in submontane and montane life zones.[4]

Like other species of mussurana, C. scytalina is known to feed on other snakes.[4]

Clelia scytalina is oviparous (egg-laying).[4]

  1. ^ López-Luna, M.A.; Canseco-Márquez, L. (2022). "Clelia scytalina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T197469A217775261.
  2. ^ "Clelia scytalina ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  3. ^ a b c "Clelia scytalina (Cope, 1867)" at the Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. Consulted: 22 April 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Muñoz Chacón, Federico (2000). Clelia scytalina (Cope, 1867) Archived 2014-01-10 at the Wayback Machine. INBio (Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad ), Costa Rica. Consulted: 22 April 2012.
  5. ^ Savage JM (2002). The Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica: A Herpetofauna between Two Continents, between Two Seas. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press. xx + 945 pp. ISBN 0-226-73537-0. (Clelia scytalina, p. 574).