Chironius carinatus
| machete savane | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Colubrinae |
| Genus: | Chironius |
| Species: | C. carinatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Chironius carinatus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Coluber carinatus Linnaeus, 1758 |
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Chironius carinatus, commonly known as the machete savane, is a very large, but slender colubrid snake. Although nonvenomous, this snake is well known for its aggressive behaviour.
Contents |
[edit] Geographic range
It is endemic to the Guianas, northern Brazil to Costa Rica, eastern Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago.
[edit] Description
Chironius carinatus may grow to 3 m (9.8 feet) in total length. Body color can range from brown to deep yellow or gold, with the tail being generally darker than the body. The belly is often a bright shade of yellow or orange. In most specimens, body scales have lightly colored centers with darker edges. A light colored stripe runs down the length of the body, fading at the tail. The dorsal scales are in 12 rows.[1]
[edit] Diet
It feeds on frogs, mice, and birds.
[edit] References
- ^ Boulenger, G.A. 1894. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume II. London. pp. 73-75.
Boos, Hans E.A. (2001). The snakes of Trinidad and Tobago. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX.. ISBN 1-58544-116-3.
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