Saint Lucia racer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Lucia racer |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Erythrolamprus
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| Species: |
ornatus
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| Synonyms | |
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The Saint Lucia racer (scientific name: Erythrolamprus ornatus) is a very rare type of snake. It's also known as the ornate ground snake. This snake lives only on the island of Saint Lucia in the Caribbean Sea. It's one of the rarest snakes on Earth, with fewer than 20 left in the wild!
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Where Does This Snake Live?
The Saint Lucia racer is found only on Saint Lucia, an island in the West Indies. This island is located in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Long ago, these snakes lived all over Saint Lucia. Now, they can only be found on a tiny island called Maria Major.
What Kind of Home Does It Like?
The Saint Lucia racer prefers to live in forests and shrubland. These are areas with lots of trees and bushes. They can be found from sea level all the way up to about 950 meters (3,117 feet) high.
What Does It Look Like?
Adult Saint Lucia racers can grow to be about 123.5 centimeters (48.6 inches) long, including their tail. These snakes are not venomous, meaning they are not harmful to humans. Their colors can change from one snake to another. Some have a wide brown stripe down their back. Others have a brown stripe that is broken up by yellow spots.
How Does It Behave?
The Saint Lucia racer is likely a diurnal animal. This means it is most active during the daytime. It is also an ambush predator. This means it waits quietly for its prey to come close, then it quickly strikes!
What Does It Eat?
The Saint Lucia racer preys on small animals. Its main diet includes small rodents and lizards.
Reproduction
The Saint Lucia racer is an oviparous snake. This means that the female snake lays eggs. The baby snakes then hatch from these eggs.
Why Is This Snake So Rare?
In 1936, people thought the Saint Lucia racer had completely disappeared. But then, in 1973, a few were found again! Sadly, they seemed to vanish once more. In 2012, 11 of these snakes were found on Maria Major. This small island is special because it doesn't have mongooses, which are animals that hunt snakes.
Today, many groups are working hard to save the Saint Lucia racer. The Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Fauna and Flora International, Saint Lucia National Trust, and the Saint Lucia Forestry Department are all helping. They are trying to create a group of these snakes that can live and breed safely. They have two special places: one for the snakes to breed, and another to grow food for them.
