False fer-de-lance facts for kids
Quick facts for kids False fer-de-lance |
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The false fer-de-lance (scientific name: Xenodon rabdocephalus) is a type of snake found in Central and northern South America. It's called "false fer-de-lance" because it looks a bit like the more dangerous fer-de-lance snake. However, the false fer-de-lance is only mildly venomous, meaning its venom is not very harmful to humans. This snake is part of a large group of snakes called the Colubridae family.
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About the False Fer-de-Lance
Where It Lives
The false fer-de-lance lives in many places. In southern Mexico, you can find it in states like Guerrero, Veracruz, Yucatan, and Campeche. It also lives throughout Central America in countries such as Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Moving south, this snake is also found in northern South America. Its home countries there include Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil. In Brazil, it lives in states like Amapá, Rondônia, Pará, Espírito Santo, and Bahia.
Its Home (Habitat)
This snake prefers to live in forests. It likes moist areas that are not too high up, usually from sea level up to about 1,500 m (4,900 ft) (about 4,900 feet). These places are often called lowlands or premontane regions.
What It Looks Like
The false fer-de-lance is a medium-sized snake. It can grow to be about 80 cm (31 in) long, which includes its tail. Its body is mostly brown. It has a pattern of brown and gray shapes on its back that look a bit like hourglasses.
What It Eats
This snake mainly eats frogs and toads. It also enjoys eating tadpoles, which are young frogs or toads.
Reproduction
The false fer-de-lance is an oviparous snake. This means that the female snake lays eggs. The baby snakes then hatch from these eggs.
Different Types
Scientists recognize two main types, or subspecies, of the false fer-de-lance. These are:
- X. r. rabdocephalus (Wied, 1824)
- X. r. mexicanus H.M. Smith, 1940
The names in parentheses mean that the subspecies was first described under a different scientific group name than Xenodon.
See also
In Spanish: Culebra engañosa norteña para niños
