Colubridae
False Mussurana
HarmlessBoiruna maculata
6 photographs of the False Mussurana. © Leonel Roget.
The False Mussurana (Boiruna maculata) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the False Mussurana
Boiruna maculata, 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 native to South America.
Description
B. maculata has smooth dorsal scales. Adults are uniformly black, both dorsally and ventrally. Juveniles are black dorsally, and red ventrally, with a red nuchal collar.
Geographic range
B. maculata can be found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Habitat
B. maculata is found in a variety of habitats including forest, savanna, shrubland, and desert.
Behavior
B. maculata is terrestrial.
Diet
B. maculata preys predominately upon snakes, but also upon fishes, lizards, birds, and small mammals.
Reproduction
B. maculata is oviparous.
Venom
B. maculata is rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous), and it possesses a venom which is potentially dangerous to humans, especially children.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: False Mussurana
- Is the False Mussurana venomous?
- No. The False Mussurana (Boiruna maculata) 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 False Mussurana poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The False Mussurana is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the False Mussurana dangerous?
- The False Mussurana is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- What does the False Mussurana eat?
- B. maculata preys predominately upon snakes, but also upon fishes, lizards, birds, and small mammals.
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 maculata
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.