Colubridae
Boiruna sertaneja
HarmlessThis species has no widely used English common name.
6 photographs of the Boiruna sertaneja. © stephen.
Boiruna sertaneja is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Boiruna sertaneja
Boiruna sertaneja, also known commonly as a mussurana (along with several other snakes), is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Brazil.
Description
A medium to large snake, B. sertaneja may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 2.35 m (7.7 ft).
Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of B. sertaneja are savanna and shrubland.
Diet
B. sertaneja preys predominately upon snakes, but may also eat lizards.
Reproduction
B. sertaneja is oviparous. Females reach sexual maturity at a total length (including tail) of about 1.3 m (4.3 ft). Clutch size is 4–14 eggs.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Boiruna sertaneja
- Is the Boiruna sertaneja venomous?
- No. The Boiruna sertaneja is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Boiruna sertaneja poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Boiruna sertaneja is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Boiruna sertaneja dangerous?
- The Boiruna sertaneja is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Boiruna sertaneja live?
- The Boiruna sertaneja has verified records in 1 country, including Brazil. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Boiruna sertaneja eat?
- B. sertaneja preys predominately upon snakes, but may also eat lizards.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Boiruna
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Boiruna sertaneja
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.