Oxyrhopus fitzingeri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oxyrhopus fitzingeri |
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Oxyrhopus
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| Species: |
fitzingeri
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The Fitzinger's false coral snake (scientific name: Oxyrhopus fitzingeri) is a type of snake. It belongs to the Colubridae family, which is a large group of snakes. This snake is known for looking a bit like a coral snake, but it's not venomous like true coral snakes.
You can find Fitzinger's false coral snake in the northwestern parts of South America. Scientists have found two slightly different kinds, or subspecies, of this snake.
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About the Name: Fitzinger's False Coral Snake
The name fitzingeri was given to this snake to honor a famous Austrian scientist. His name was Leopold Fitzinger, and he studied reptiles and amphibians.
One of the subspecies is named frizzelli. This name honors Don L. Frizzell and Harriet E. Frizzell. They were the people who collected the very first snake of that specific type.
Where Fitzinger's False Coral Snake Lives
This snake makes its home in two countries in South America: Ecuador and Peru.
Snake Habitats
Fitzinger's false coral snake can live in different kinds of places. It likes forests, open grassy areas called savannas, and even deserts. You can find these snakes from sea level all the way up to about 1,829 meters (6,000 feet) high.
Reproduction and Subspecies
Like many snakes, the Fitzinger's false coral snake lays eggs. This means it is an oviparous animal.
Different Kinds of Fitzinger's False Coral Snake
Scientists recognize two main subspecies of Oxyrhopus fitzingeri. They are:
- Oxyrhopus fitzingeri fitzingeri (named by Tschudi in 1845)
- Oxyrhopus fitzingeri frizzelli (named by Schmidt and Walker in 1943)
Sometimes, you might see a name in parentheses after a snake's scientific name. This means that when the snake was first described, scientists thought it belonged to a different group (or genus) of snakes. Later, they moved it to the Oxyrhopus group.
