Tschudi's false coral snake facts for kids
Oxyrhopus melanogenys, commonly known as the Tschudi's false coral snake, is a type of snake found in the northern parts of South America. It belongs to a large family of snakes called Colubridae. This snake is often called a "false coral snake" because its colors and patterns can look similar to those of venomous coral snakes, but the Tschudi's false coral snake is not dangerous to humans.
Quick facts for kids Oxyrhopus melanogenys |
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Oxyrhopus
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melanogenys
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Contents
About the Tschudi's False Coral Snake
This section will describe what the Tschudi's false coral snake looks like.
Size and Appearance
Adult Tschudi's false coral snakes can grow up to about 68 centimeters (27 inches) long. This measurement includes their tail, which can be around 17 centimeters (7 inches) long.
The snake's back, also known as its dorsal side, is usually red or reddish-brown. The scales on its back often have black edges or black tips. Sometimes, especially near the front of its body, you might see a few black bands. These black bands often appear in groups of three. The top of the snake's head and the back of its neck are black. Its belly, or ventral side, is yellowish. People sometimes confuse this snake with another similar snake called Oxyrhopus trigeminus.
Scales and Skin
The scales on the snake's back are smooth to the touch. They also have tiny little dents called "apical pits." These scales are arranged in 19 rows around the middle of the snake's body.
Types of Tschudi's False Coral Snake
Scientists have identified two main types, or subspecies, of the Tschudi's false coral snake. These are:
- Oxyrhopus melanogenys melanogenys (Tschudi, 1845)
- Oxyrhopus melanogenys orientalis Cunha & Nascimento, 1983
Where These Snakes Live
The Tschudi's false coral snake is found in several countries in northern South America.
Range of O. m. melanogenys
The subspecies O. m. melanogenys lives in:
- Bolivia
- Peru
- Brazil (in the states of Rondônia, Amazonas, and Pará)
- Ecuador
- Colombia
- Guyana
- Venezuela (in the states of Amazonas and Bolívar)
Range of O. m. orientalis
The subspecies O. m. orientalis is found in:
- Peru
- Brazil (in the state of Pará)
