Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Order Squamata Scientific name Erythrolamprus cobella | Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Suborder Serpentes Rank Species | |
Similar Liophis reginae, Hydrops triangularis, Liophis, Brown‑banded water snake, Liophis miliaris | ||
Liophis cobella, commonly known as the mangrove snake, is a species of small semi-aquatic snake, which is endemic to South America.
Contents
Geographic range
It is found in northern South America east of the Andes, in the Guianas, eastern Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Description
Adults may attain a total length of 73 cm (29 in), which includes a tail 12.5 cm (4.9 in) long.
Dorsally, it is black or dark brown with white crossbands. Ventrally it is red with black crossbands. The upper labials are white or yellowish.
There are 8 upper labials, the 4th and 5th entering the eye. The dorsal scales, which are smooth and without apical pits, are arranged in 17 rows at midbody. Ventrals 143-163; anal plate divided; subcaudals 45-57, also divided (in two rows).
Habitat
It lives in lowland rainforest river floodplains and coastal mangrove swamps.
Diet
It feeds on frogs, geckos, and fish.