Red keelback facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red keelback |
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| from Taiwan | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pseudagkistrodon
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| Species: |
rudis
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| Synonyms | |
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The Pseudagkistrodon rudis is a type of snake that belongs to the Colubridae family. It's the only species in its group, which is called Pseudagkistrodon. People also know this snake as the red keelback, false habu, or false viper. You can find it in parts of China (southwest, south, and east) and in Taiwan. There's even a special kind of this snake, called Pseudagkistrodon rudis multiprefrontalis, found in Sichuan.
Contents
About the False Viper Snake
What Does the False Viper Look Like?
The Pseudagkistrodon rudis snake often tries to look like a more dangerous type of snake called a viper. When it feels threatened, its head can change shape to become more triangular, just like a viper's head.
This snake can grow up to about 120 centimeters (about 4 feet) long. Its head is wide and clearly stands out from its neck. The snake's back is usually brown or grey-brown. Sometimes it has a bronze color. It also has dark patterns that can be different sizes and shapes.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Female Pseudagkistrodon rudis snakes give birth to live young. They usually have 12 to 27 babies in late summer and autumn. When they are first born, the young snakes are quite small, measuring about 13 to 20 centimeters (about 5 to 8 inches) long.
Where the False Viper Lives
Habitat and Conservation Status
The Pseudagkistrodon rudis is a common snake. It lives in mountain meadows, along rivers and streams, in valleys, and near roads. You can also find it in bushes and piles of rocks. These snakes live at heights from about 600 to 2,650 meters (about 2,000 to 8,700 feet) above sea level.
Sometimes, many of these snakes are caught and traded. This might cause problems for the snake's numbers in certain local areas. However, the total number of Pseudagkistrodon rudis snakes is stable across its wide habitat. Because of this, its conservation status is listed as "Least Concern". This means that scientists are not worried about this snake becoming endangered right now.
