Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Scientific name Spilotes pullatus Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Order Squamata Family Colubridae Higher classification Spilotes | |
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Similar Spilotes, Snake, Reptile, Chironius, Colubridae | ||
Chicken snake aka spilotes pullatus
Spilotes pullatus, commonly known as the caninana, chicken snake, yellow rat snake, or serpiente tigre, is a species of large nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to Mesoamerica.
Contents
- Chicken snake aka spilotes pullatus
- Geographic range
- Description
- Habitat
- Behavior
- Diet
- Subspecies
- References
Geographic range
It is found in southern Central America, northern South America, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Description
Adults may attain a maximum total length of 2.7 m (8.9 ft).
Dorsally, S. pullatus is black with yellow spots which may form crossbands. The tip of the snout is yellow. The head shields may be mostly yellow, or mostly black, or crossbanded with a combination of yellow and black, but the sutures between the shields are always black. Ventrally, it is yellow with irregular black crossbands.
The body is relatively slender and somewhat laterally compressed. The head is distinct from the neck. The eye is moderate in size with a round pupil. There are no suboculars, and the loreal is either very small or absent. There are 6 or 7 upper labials, the 3rd and 4th entering the eye, the last two very large. The dorsal scales are pointed and overlapping.
The dorsal scales are arranged in 16 (or 14) rows at midbody. Ventrals 198-232; anal plate entire; subcaudals 90-120, divided.
Habitat
It tends to inhabit forested areas, and is often found near water.
Behavior
It is mainly arboreal, but also terrestrial.
Diet
It feeds on a wide variety of prey, including small mammals, birds, and lizards.
Subspecies
Including the nominotypical subspecies, the following five subspecies are recognized:
