Mexican snake eater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mexican snake eater |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Clelia |
| Species: |
C. scytalina
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| Binomial name | |
| Clelia scytalina (Cope, 1867)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Mexican snake eater (Clelia scytalina) is a cool snake also known as the zopilota de altura (which means 'highland mussarana'). It belongs to the Colubridae family, which is a very large group of snakes. This snake is special because it's only found in the New World (North and South America).
Contents
Where Does the Mexican Snake Eater Live?
The Mexican snake eater lives in several places. You can find it in Southern Mexico. It also lives in parts of Central America. And it makes its home as far south as Colombia.
What Does the Mexican Snake Eater Look Like?
The head of this snake is a bit wider than its neck. It has eyes that are not too big, with pupils shaped like a vertical oval. Its body is round, like a cylinder, and its tail is a medium length.
The scales on its back are smooth. They are arranged in 17 rows around the middle of its body.
Amazing Color Change
Young Mexican snake eaters look very different from adults! When they are young, their head is black. They have a yellow or white band (like a collar) around their neck. The rest of their body is bright red.
Because of these colors, young snakes are often mistaken for coral snakes. This can be a problem for them.
But as they grow up, their colors change completely! Adult Mexican snake eaters are a uniform bluish-black color on their backs. Their bellies are a creamy white color.
Where Does the Mexican Snake Eater Live?
The Mexican snake eater is a land animal. It likes to live in old forests and forests that are growing back. You can often find them near the edges of these forests.
Sometimes, they are also seen in open areas. These open spots are usually in lower mountain areas and mountain regions.
What Does the Mexican Snake Eater Eat?
Like other snakes in the mussurana group, the Mexican snake eater has a special diet. It is known to eat other snakes! This is why it's called the "snake eater."
Reproduction
Clelia scytalina reproduces by laying eggs. This means it is an oviparous species.
 | James Van Der Zee |
 | Alma Thomas |
 | Ellis Wilson |
 | Margaret Taylor-Burroughs |
