Forest Flame Snake

Oxyrhopus petolarius, commonly known as the forest flame snake, is a species of mildly venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Central and South America. There are three recognized subspecies.

Taxonomy and nomenclature

According to Savage (2011) the correct scientific name should be Oxyrhopus petolarius.

Geographic range

O. petolarius is found in central and northern South America, including Trinidad and Tobago.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of O. petolarius are forest and savanna, at altitudes from sea level to 2,000 m (6,600 ft).

Description

Adults 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.

Venom

O. petolarius is rear-fanged, and its venom is extremely toxic to anole lizards.

Diet

O. petolarius feeds on lizards, frogs, other amphibians, tadpoles, small rodents, other small mammals, birds and their eggs, and probably other snakes.

Reproduction

O. petolarius is oviparous.

Subspecies

Some authorities recognize three subspecies of O. petolarius, including the nominotypical subspecies.

Oxyrhopus petolarius digitalis (Reuss, 1834)

Oxyrhopus petolarius petola (Linnaeus, 1758)

Oxyrhopus petolarius sebae A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854

Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Oxyrhopus.

Etymology

The subspecific name, sebae, is in honor of Dutch naturalist Albertus Seba.