Colubridae
South American Sipo
HarmlessChironius multiventris
6 photographs of the South American Sipo. © Frances Oliver.
The South American Sipo (Chironius multiventris) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 11 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the South American Sipo
Chironius multiventris, commonly known as the long-tailed machete savane, is species of colubrid snake.
Geographic range
It is found in Peru, northern Venezuela, Colombia in the Guainía and Trinidad and Tobago.
Description
The body is elongate, and strongly laterally compressed. The tail is long, as the common name implies. The dorsum is olive to light brown. There is a narrow whitish, black-edged, vertebral stripe. The upper labials and the ventrum are yellowish.
The ventrals are 178–183, and the subcaudals are 172–202. (Both these counts are higher than in C. carinatus.) The dorsal scales are arranged in 12 rows anteriorly and at midbody, in 10 rows posteriorly. (C. carinatus has 8 rows posteriorly.)
Adults may attain a total length of 136 cm (4 ft 6 in), with a tail 56 cm (22 in) long.
Diet
Chironius multiventris feeds on frogs.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: South American Sipo
- Is the South American Sipo venomous?
- No. The South American Sipo (Chironius multiventris) 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 South American Sipo poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The South American Sipo is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the South American Sipo dangerous?
- The South American Sipo is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the South American Sipo live?
- The South American Sipo has verified records in 11 countries, including Brazil, Peru, Ecuador. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the South American Sipo eat?
- Chironius multiventris feeds on frogs.
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
- Chironius
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Chironius multiventris
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.