Mussurana
| Mussurana | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Dipsadidae |
| Subfamily: | Xenodontinae |
| Genus: |
Clelia Fitzinger, 1826 |
| Species | |
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See article |
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See article
The mussurana or musurana (Portuguese muçurana) is a genus (Clelia) of colubrid snakes found in Central America and South America, from Guatemala to Brazil. They specialize in ophiophagy, i.e., they attack and eat other snakes. Currently six species are recognized. They have other popular names in various countries, such as zopilota in Central America and cribo on some Caribbean islands (though they are not related to Drymarchon).
The following species are currently recognized:
The mussurana has an average length of 1.5–1.6 m (4.9–5.2 ft), but it can grow up to 2.4 m (7.9 ft). When young, its dorsal color is light pink, which becomes lead-blue when it is adult. The ventral color is whitish yellow. It has 10 to 15 strong teeth at the back of the mouth (opisthoglyphous teeth) which it uses to grasp the head of the attacked snake and push it into its gullet. Then it coils its body around the victim, killing it by constriction (this is the reason this species is called a pseudoboa). Ingestion of the whole body follows. The long body of the ingested snake is compressed as a wave in order to fit into the mussurana's gastrointestinal system. Mussaranas are oviparous.
Although mussuranas are rear-fanged and produce a mild venom, these snakes pose no danger to humans. Even when handled they usually do not bite. Very few envenomations have been reported and they were not fatal. [1]
The mussurana is immune to the venom of the snakes it feeds upon, particularly the smaller Central and South American pit vipers of the genus Bothrops. It is not immune to the venom of the coral snake, though. In the absence of other snakes, the mussurana can feed also on small mammals. It has been reported that at least some captive specimens will accept only live snakes as prey. Its preferred habitat is dense ground-level vegetation and its habit is diurnal.
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