Oxyrhopus guibei is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is Endemism to South America. It is often called the false coral snake,[Braz, Henrique; Manço, Daniel De Granville (2011). "Natural nests of the false-coral snake Oxyrhopus guibei in southeastern Brazil". Herpetology Notes 4: 187-189.][Tozetti, Alexandro M. et al. (2004). " Oxyrhopus guibei (False Coral Snake). Predation". Herpetological Review 35 (2): 179.][ "Aniliidae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.][ " Erythrolamprus ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.] Many nonvenomous snakes have evolved coloration that Batesian mimicry that of venomous true , a trait which helps them avoid predation.[; Janzen, Fredric J. (1995). "Experimental studies of Coral Snake mimicry: Generalized avoidance of ringed snake patterns by free-ranging avian predators". Functional Ecology 9: 186-190. ]
Etymology
The specific name,
guibei, is in honor of
France Herpetology Jean Guibé.
[; ; Michael Grayson. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. . ("Guibé", p. 111.)]
Geographic range
O. guibei is native to central sections of South America, in parts of
Bolivia,
Brazil,
Paraguay, and
Argentina.
[ " Oxyrhopus guibei ". The Reptile Database.]
Conservation status
The species
O. guibei has been described as common
[ to abundant.][
]
Description
O. guibei can reach [Kraus JE (2005). Fauna and flora of the campus of the Cidade Universitária Armando de Salles Oliveira. EdUSP. 2005: 70.] to in total length (including tail).[ Females can reach much larger sizes than males.][
]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of O. guibei is forest,[ including forest edges and open areas. The snake is sometimes seen near human activity and habitation, for example, on and in .][
]
Behavior
O. guibei is mostly Nocturnality, but is sometimes out basking during the day.[, (1991). "Habits of five Brazilian snakes with coral-snake pattern, including a summary of defensive tactics". Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment 26: 159-64. ] It spends most of its time on the ground,[ but it will climb trees at times.][
]
Diet
The diet of O. guibei includes , , and other small animals. Rodent Predation items include ( Rattus sp.), the hairy-tailed bolo mouse ( Necromys lasiurus), the house mouse ( Mus musculus), the small vesper mouse ( Calomys laucha),[ the delicate vesper mouse ( Calomys tener), and hocicudos ( Oxymycterus sp.).][Alencar, Laura R.V. et al. (2009). " Oxyrhopus guibei (False Coralsnake). Diet". Herpetological Review 40 (3): 357-358. ] It will eat the lizard Tropidurus itambere and it has been observed taking leptotila nestlings ( Leptotila sp.).[ Lizards it will swallow alive, but rodents it often constriction first.][Andrade, Rogério de Oliveira; Silvano, Renato A. Matias (1996). "Feeding behavior and diet of the Oxyrhopus guibei Hoge & Romano (Serpentes, Colubridae)". Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 13 (1): 143-150.]
Reproduction
The female O. guibei lays eggs year-round,[ but male and female reproductive activity slows around the end of the rainy season.][ Clutch sizes range from about 3 to 20,][ with an average size of about 11.][ Longer females lay more eggs.][ Eggs are laid in nest sites such as cavities in rock piles and abandoned rabbit burrows.][ The female abandons the eggs once they are laid.][
]
Enemies
Predators of the species O. guibei include the laughing falcon ( Herpetotheres cachinnans), a bird which specializes in snakes, and Erythrolamprus aesculapii, another species of false coral snake. It has also been observed in the diet of the maned wolf ( Chrysocyon brachyurus), which readily eats snakes, including venomous species.[
]
Defensive behavior
O. guibei performs defensive behaviors when threatened, such as "brusque" thrashing,[ staying still or rushing to escape, compressing or inflating its body, coiling, hiding its head, or producing a discharge.][
]
Further reading
-
, (1977). "Description of a new subspecies of Oxyrhopus Wagler (Serpentes, Colubridae)". Memórias do Instituto Butantan 40/41: 55-62. ( Oxyrhopus trigeminus guibei, p. 58.)
-
, Caramaschi U (1992). " Sur le statut taxinomique d’ Oxyrhopus trigeminus et O. guibei (Serpentes, Xenodontinae) ". Bulletin du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (4) 14a (3-4): 805-827. (in French).
