Redback coffee snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ninia sebae |
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Ninia
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sebae
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The redback coffee snake (Ninia sebae) is a small, harmless snake found in parts of Mexico and Central America. It is also known as the red coffee snake. This snake lives on the ground and belongs to the Colubridae family. Even though it looks a bit like some coral snakes, which are venomous, the redback coffee snake is completely safe. It rarely bites people.
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What's in a Name?
The scientific name sebae was given to this snake to honor a Dutch naturalist named Albertus Seba. A naturalist is someone who studies nature, including animals and plants.
Different Kinds of Redback Coffee Snakes
Just like there are different breeds of dogs, there are different types, or subspecies, of the redback coffee snake. Scientists currently recognize four valid subspecies:
- Ninia sebae immaculata
- Ninia sebae morleyi
- Ninia sebae punctulata
- Ninia sebae sebae
Sometimes, when a subspecies is first described, it's placed in a different group (genus) than where it ends up. The names in parentheses show that the subspecies was first described in a different genus than Ninia.
Where They Live
The redback coffee snake lives in different natural places. These include forests and open savanna areas. You can find them from sea level up to about 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) high.
Behavior
Coffee snakes, like the redback coffee snake, have special ways to avoid being eaten. They often try to hide or escape. If they feel threatened, they might flatten their whole body. Sometimes, they just stay very still in the position they were found. In one study, these snakes would flatten their head and neck. They would also raise the front part of their body when touched.
What They Eat
The redback coffee snake is a predator. It hunts and eats small creatures. Its diet mainly includes earthworms, slugs, small land snails, and caecilians. Caecilians are legless amphibians that look a bit like worms or snakes.
Reproduction
The redback coffee snake is an oviparous animal. This means that the female snake lays eggs. The baby snakes then hatch from these eggs.
