Xenodon pulcher

Xenodon pulcher
Hatchling tricolor hognose snakes
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Xenodon
Species:
X. pulcher
Binomial name
Xenodon pulcher
(Jan, 1863)
Synonyms
  • Heterodon pulcher
    Jan, 1863
  • Lystrophis pulcher
    (Jan, 1863)

Xenodon pulcher is a species of fossorial, mildly venomous snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to southern South America.

Taxonomy

Xenodon pulcher was originally described as Heterodon pulcher and later assigned to the genus Lystrophis, a genus of South American hognose snakes, which while similar in appearance to North American (Heterodon) and Madagascan (Leioheterodon) hognoses, are not closely related.

Common names

Common names for Xenodon pulcher include tricolor hognose snake, banded hognose snake, false coral snake, and culebra falsa in South American Spanish. It is sometimes incorrectly called ringed hognose snake, the common name for Xenodon semicinctus. Both X. pulcher and X. semicinctus are similar in appearance, which may be the cause of naming confusion.

Description

This tricolor hognose snake is distinguishable by its namesake upturned rostral scale and striking banded pattern of white stripes bordered with black on a red base. It uses mimicry for defense, as it displays the same colors and patterns as some venomous coral snakes. When threatened, it may use a defensive display involving bluff strikes, neck flattening, and spastic movements similar to coral snakes. While Xenodon pulcher possesses a relatively stocky body shape similar to snakes of the genus Heterodon, X. pulcher is usually somewhat smaller and slimmer. Females grow to a total length (tail included) of 24 in (61 cm), while males stay smaller at 18–20 in (46–51 cm). Both sexes have a lifespan of 7–8 years, considerably shorter than most hognose snakes.

Venom

Xenodon pulcher is rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous) and venomous like members of the genus Heterodon. While the latter have extremely mild venom that only causes minor pain and swelling in humans, some anecdotal evidence shows X. pulcher venom may be slightly more toxic.

Geographic distribution and habitat

Xenodon pulcher is primarily found in the Chaco bioregion, extending through Bolivia, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. Its range may extend into Chile and parts of southwestern Brazil. This region is a dry, sandy environment on the eastern foothills of the Andes, characterized by dry scrubland, grasslands, and savannas. It is typically found near streams, as its diet consists mainly of amphibians (similar to the diet of other hognose snakes).

References

  1. ↑ Scrocchi, G. (2017). "Xenodon pulcher ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T15183645A15183668. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Species Xenodon pulcher at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Captive Husbandry of Xenodon pulcher ". The Herpetoculture Network. 2021-06-05. Retrieved 2022-06-17.[permanent dead link]
  4. 1 2 3 David, Johnathan (2022-04-23). "Tricolor Hognose: Care Guide & Species Profile". Everything Reptiles. Archived from the original on 2022-06-17. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  5. ↑ Love, Kathy (2018). "Is The Tricolor Hognose Snake The Next Big Thing?". Reptiles Magazine.
  6. ↑ "Banded Hognose Snake (Xenodon pulcher)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2022-06-17.

Further reading

  • Jan, G. (1863). "Enumerazione sistematica degli ofidi appartenenti al gruppo Coronellidae". Archivio per la zoologia, l'anatomia e la fisiologia. 2 (2): 213–330. (Heterodon pulcher, new species, pp. 222–224). (in Italian).
  • Scrocchi, G.J.; Cruz, F.B. (1993). "Description of a new species of the genus Lystrophis Cope and a revalidation of Lystrophis pulcher (Jan, 1863) (Serpentes; Colubridae)". Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo. 38 (10): 171–186. (Lystrophis pulcher, pp. 178–181, Plate 2).