False coral, Calico snake
Oxyrhopus petolarius, commonly known as the false coral, or the calico snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to South America. There are three recognized subspecies.
Other common names for O. petolarius include calico snake and forest flame snake.
The subspecific name, sebae, is in honor of Dutch naturalist Albertus Seba.
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
Precocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withAdults of O. petolarius may attain a total length of 91 cm (36 in), which includes a tail 22 cm (8.7 in) long.
Coloration is variable. It usually consists of some combination of red and black rings or crossbands. In some individuals the light-colored crossbands are white instead of red on the anterior part of the body.
The dorsal scales are smooth, with apical pits, and are arranged in 19 rows at midbody.
O. petolarius is found in central and northern South America, including Trinidad and Tobago.
The preferred natural habitats of O. petolarius are forest and savanna, at altitudes from sea level to 2,000 m (6,600 ft).
O. petolarius is rear-fanged, and its venom is extremely toxic to anole lizards.
O. petolarius feeds on lizards, frogs, other amphibians, small rodents, other small mammals, birds and their eggs, and probably other snakes.
O. petolarius is oviparous.
