Snake

A snake is an elongate reptile of the suborder Serpentes. Like all reptiles, snakes are covered in scales. All snakes are carnivorous and can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids, limbs, external ears, and vestiges of forelimbs. The 2,700+ species of snakes spread across every continent except Antarctica ranging in size from the tiny, 10 cm long thread snake to pythons and anacondas at 9 m (30 ft) long. In order to accommodate snakes' narrow bodies, paired organs (such as kidneys) appear one in front of the other instead of side by side. While venomous snakes comprise a minority of the species, some possess potent venom capable of causing painful injury or death to humans. However, venom in snakes is primarily for killing and subduing prey rather than for self-defense. Snakes may have evolved from a lizard which adapted to burrowing during the Cretaceous period (c 150 Ma), though some scientists have postulated an aquatic origin. The diversity of modern snakes appeared during the Paleocene period (c 66 to 56 Ma).

Grows to a total length 770 mm, tail length 170 mm.[5] Dorsal scales in 21 (rarely 23) longitudinal rows at midbody; 9-11 upper labials, first upper labials separated from nasals by a distinct suture; a single supraocular; above green, below pale green to whitish, the two separated by a bright bicolored orange or brown (below) and white (above) (males) or white (females) ventrolateral stripe, which occupies the whole of the outermost scale row and a portion of the second row; ventrals 155-169; subcaudals 52-76, in males the base of the tail enlarged to the level of subcaudals 20-25; hemipenes long and slender, smooth, without spines.[5] This species is most often confused with T. s. stejnegeri (q.v.), the two have quite distinct hemipenes, which does not make identification of individuals in the field or in the laboratory any easier without recourse to (a) male individuals and (b) an examination of the hemipenes. However, the two species are not known to have overlapping distributions, at least based on available materials. Also, closely allied to T. popeorum is T. s. yunnanensis (q.v.); ordinarily, the two are more easily be told apart by the number of midbody dorsal scale rows, 21 in T. popeorum, 19 in T. s. yunnanensis.[5] [edit] Geographic range Northern India, Burma, Thailand, West Malaysia and Vietnam. In Indonesia, it occurs on the islands of Sumatra, Mentawai Islands (Siberut, Sipora, North Pagai) and Borneo. The type locality, designated by lectotype, is listed as "Khasi Hills, Assam" (India).[1] Gumprecht et al. (2004) consider records for Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam to be highly questionable, as they are likely based on misidentifications involving other species of Trimeresurus.[3]

[edit] SubspeciesSubspecies[4] Taxon author[4] Authority[3] Geographic range[3] T. p. barati Regenass & Kramer, 1981 Barat bamboo pitviperIndonesia: Sumatra (Barat District), the Mentawai Archipelago (on Siberut, North Pagai and South Pagai), and Simeulue (Simalur). T. p. popeorum M.A. Smith, 1937 Pope's bamboo pitviper Northeastern India, Burma, Thailand, West Malaysia, Singapore and Laos. T. p. sabahi Regenass & Kramer, 1981 Sabah bamboo pitviper East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) and Indonesia (Kalimantan). [edit] Taxonomy There are differences in opinion as to the correct spelling of the specific epithet. The following is from David and Vogel (1996):[6] This species was named in honour to Clifford H. Pope and Sarah H. Pope. The original spelling of the specific epithet, popeiorum, was corrected into popeorum by Smith (1943:518) on the basis that it was indeed a clerical error. Unfortunately, according to the Art. 32 (c, ii) of the Code (ICZN, 1985), such a change does not fall into the category of a “correction of an incorrect original spelling." According to the Art. 33 (d), the use of a termination -orum in a subsequent spelling of a species-group name that is a genitive based upon a personal name in which the correct original spelling terminates with -iorum, is an incorrect subsequent spelling, even if the change is deliberate. The original spelling, popeiorum, must therefore be conserved. Trimeresurus popeorum Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Viperidae Genus: Trimeresurus Species: T. popeorum

The Coastal Rubber Boa is a type of boa (snakes belonging to the family Boidae). It is one of the most docile boas alive. Rubber Boas are one of only two boas native to the USA, the other being the Rosy Boa.

The Southern Rubber Boa (Charina umbratica) is a closely related species found only in Southern California. Some consider it to be merely a subspecies of Charina bottae. The rubber boa is a primitive snake compared to its much larger relatives native to Latin America, which include the Boa Constrictor, Emerald Tree Boa, and Green Anaconda. The rubber boa has retained the club-like tail of its Erycine ancestors. The blunt tail of the rubber boa is used as a decoy to deter predators from attacking its head. An adult rubber boa A young rubber boa in Oregon, shown with a US nickel for size comparison. The rubber boa is seldom encountered, not because it is rare, but because it is slow, docile, and mostly nocturnal. The rubber boa is also thought to be crepuscular, meaning it is active at dusk and dawn. The habitats of the rubber boa include pine forest, grassland and shrubland, and any area of dense flat rocks located in close proximity to water. The rubber boa seeks shelter under rocks, under logs, beneath leaf litter, or in a small mammal's burrow. Newborn rubber boas are commonly green in color with a bright yellow underside. The rubber boa's color becomes dull with age. Adult rubber boas may be tan, brown, dark brown, olive-green. The rubber boa feeds on small mammals such as mice and shrews, lizards, other snakes, and possibly even raids bird nests to feed on young or eggs. The rubber boa is an extremely adaptable snake. It is a good climber, burrower, and even swimmer. It is perhaps the most northerly ranging species of boa on the planet. The rubber boa lives within the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, California, and possibly northwestern Colorado. The rubber boa also ranges into Canada and has an established population around Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia.[1] Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Family: Boidae Genus: Charina Species: C. bottae

The Ribbon snake is a common snake found throughout North America. It averages 1635 inches in length[1] and is a member of the garter snake genus. There are four subspecies of ribbon snake: Eastern Ribbon Snake - Thamnophis sauritus sauritus - brownish back, range extends from New York to Florida, west to the Mississippi River. Northern Ribbon Snake - Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis - dark brown or black above, range from Maine through Ontario and Indiana. Southern Ribbon Snake - Thamnophis sauritus sackeni - tan or brown, range from South Carolina south through Florida. Coastal Ribbon Snake - Thamnophis sauritus nitae - dark with light blue lateral stripes, Gulf coast of north-central Florida.Contents [hide] 1 Captivity 2 Food 3 References 4 External links [edit] Captivity Ribbon snakes are also common pets. They are easily found in pet shops for up to 20 dollars. A single snake can fit in a ten gallon terrarium (aquariums work but terrariums are meant for reptiles). They are also very docile. [edit] Food Ribbon Snakes have a diverse diet consisting of worms, slugs, minnows, insects, and small mice. The Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus) is a subspecies of ribbon snake found in the northeastern United States. Some species that are similar to the Eastern Ribbon Snake are the Western Ribbon Snake, Common Gartersnake, Plains Gartersnake, and the Butler Garter Snake. (Mayer 2003) The subspecies to the Eastern Ribbon Snake is the Northern Ribbon Snake T. s. septentrionalis. (Mayer 2003)Contents [hide] 1 Description 2 Habitats 3 Eating Habits 4 Reproduction and Care of the Young 5 Behavior 6 References

[edit] Description The Eastern Ribbon Snake gets its name from its very thin body. At maturity it can be anywhere from 18 to 86 cm in length. (Kingsbury 2007) It is a slender black snake with a yellow midback stripe and one on each side. A brown stripe that is 1-2 rows of scales extends onto the sides of the belly. The rest of the belly is a greenish white color. They also have two rows of black spots between the back and side stripes. It also has a long tail that is about a third of the length of its body.(Mayer 2003) The labial scales around the mouth of the snake are unmarked and uniformly bright yellow or white. A white or light yellow bar borders the front of their eyes. (Kingsbury 2007) Juveniles are colored like adults. (Towson University 2007) Here are some aspects of the Eastern Ribbon Snake that make it different from a close relative, the Garter Snake. The Eastern Ribbon Snake has a much thinner body than a Garter Snake. It also has a tail that makes up about one third of its body length. This snake has stripes on the third and fourth scale rows. The Eastern Ribbon Snake has pure white lips and a mark of White color in front of its eyes. These characteristics make it easy to tell the difference between the snakes but it may help to have one of each on hand to look at (Crowe 2006). Eastern Ribbon Snake (below left) has a dot in front of its eye, where as the Garter Snake (below right) does not.

[edit] Habitats The Eastern Ribbon Snake is typically found in the Northeastern United States and Southeastern Canada. You can usually find them in wetlands and near the edges of ponds and streams. (Kenney 2007) They are comfortable both in and out of water, they are adapted to both environments. When they are frightened they take to the water or bushes.They do not dive like water snakes, they glide across the surface of the water. (Buchanan 2007) The only parts of Canada known to have this reptile are Southern Ontario and Southwest Nova Scotia. This passage from Northeastern Naturalists focuses on finding out more about the distribution, seasonal activity, movement patterns and over-wintering sites of the Eastern Ribbon Snake. There is very little information in Nova Scotia about these topics. The entry in this book is an overview of an experiment that naturalists conducted in the Southwest part of Nova Scotia in the Kejimkujik National Park, taking place from Mid-May to Mid-November 2001. They marked 105 snakes in the area, pin pointing the areas each snake was captured and marked by using a GPS. The naturalists knew the background of the Eastern Ribbon Snake including that they are generally semi-aquatic, are found near water, and usually prey on amphibians. In order to do their study, the naturalists always had someone out in the field observing the snake as to what they ate and their living range. The experiment found that between late May and September the

snakes were always found within five meters of water and lived in a five to ten square meter area. They also found that between September and mid October they would expand their range and were found as far as 173 meters away from a shoreline. From their experiment, they naturalists from Nova Scotia discovered a lot more about the Eastern Ribbon Snakes in Southwestern Nova Scotia. The most important conclusion they found was that with the low activity rate and activity range indicate that the lack of ability to expand the areas that they are found in puts these snakes in danger of local extinction. (Bell, Hermann, Wassersug pg. 279) [edit] Eating Habits The Ribbon Snake generally eat small fish, tadpoles, salamanders, small frogs and toads, and occasionally insects. In some cases the female has been observed eating her young. The typical time for snakes to hunt is in the morning or early evening. Once the snake has spotted its prey, it will quickly slither to catch its prey and swallow it whole. (Ohio Department of Natural Resources 2006) [edit] Reproduction and Care of the Young Reproduction in Eastern Ribbon Snakes takes place after they emerge from hibernation in the spring time, in April or May. Mating occasionally takes place in the fall, but the female will delay fertilization and development until the next spring. The average gestation period is three months. They average number of young is around 12 but can range anywhere from 4-27. Females give birth in late summer or maybe even the early fall. After birth there is no parental care involved, the young are left to fend for themselves. Most young reach sexual maturity after two years, but most usually wait until the third year. (Towson University 2007) [edit] Behavior Thamnophis Sauritus Sauritus likes to stay active year around. However, when the colder months set in the snakes may be forced to hibernate. It typically hibernates in ant mounds, vole tunnels, crayfish burrows, muskrat lodges, and bank burrows. Ribbon Snakes rarely bite when handled but they do produce a foul musk from their anal glands when they feel threatened. (Buchanan 2007) The Northern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis) is a species of garter snake. It is one of four subspecies of the eastern ribbon snake (Thamnophis sauritus) and occurs in the United States and Canada in southern Maine, southern Ontario, Michigan, New York, Nova Scotia, and northern Ohio and Indiana. It is listed as a state endangered species in Wisconsin. It is a slender black or brown snake with three bright yellow or white stripes on its back. The head is black, with the scales alongside the mouth being

white. The underside is also white or light yellow. Adult ribbon snakes are 18 to 38 inches in length. Ribbon Snakes inhabit marshes or live near the edges of lakes, ponds, and streams. They swim well and their diet includes frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, small fish, and insects. Northern ribbon snake have from 3 to 26 young which are born in late summer. The young snakes are 7 to 9 inches long and are colored the same as the adults. This snake article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Colubridae Genus: Thamnophis Species: T. sauritus

Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum Family: Colubridae Order: Squamata Class: Reptilia DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND SEASONALITY Coachwhips are common to uncommon in arid regions below 2350 m (7700 ft) in California (Stebbins 1985). They are found in the deserts south of Mono Co. and the foothills of the coast ranges south of San Francisco Bay. There is an isolated population in the Sutter Buttes, Sutter Co. (Hayes and Cliff 1982). Coachwhips occur in open terrain and are most abundant in grass, desert, scrub, chaparral, and pasture habitats (Wilson 1970, Stebbins 1972). SPECIFIC HABITAT REQUIREMENTS Feeding: Diet consists of rodents, lizards and eggs, snakes (including rattlesnakes), birds and eggs, young turtles, insects, and carrion (Cowles 1946, Stebbins 1954, Wright and Wright 1957, Carpenter 1958, Cunningham 1959, Miller and Stebbins 1964). Coachwhips search actively for prey, with their heads elevated. They poke their heads in burrows, or climb trees, using both vision and olfaction to detect prey (Stebbins 1954, 1985, Miller and Stebbins 1964), which is consumed alive and whole (Ortenburger 1928, Stebbins 1954, 1985).

Cover: Coachwhips seek cover in rodent burrows, bushes, trees, and rock piles (Stebbins 1954, 1985, Miller and Stebbins 1964). They hibernate in soil or sand approximately 0.3 m (1 ft) below the surface, sometimes at the bases of plants (Wright and Wright 1957). Reproduction: Little is known about nest sites. One was recorded on the bank of a highway drainage ditch, approximately 0.3 m (1 ft) beneath the ground surface (Wright and Wright 1957). Water: In desert regions, coachwhips may be attracted to water to drink or ambush prey (Miller and Stebbins 1964). Pattern: Open habitats are preferred. SPECIES LIFE HISTORY Activity Patterns: Diurnal. Coachwhips are usually active mid-morning and late afternoon (Miller and Stebbins 1964) from March through October (Wright and Wright 1957). Seasonal Movements/Migration: No data. Home Range: No data. Territory: No data. Reproduction: Mating occurs in April and May, eggs are laid June and July, and the first young appear in late August or early September (Stebbins 1954, Wright and Wright 1957, Fitch 1970). Clutch size ranges from 4 to 16 eggs with a mean of 8 to 10 (Stebbins 1954, Wright and Wright 1957, Carpenter 1958, Cunningham 1959, Fitch 1970). The incubation period in the lab is 76-79 days (Stebbins 1954). Niche: Coachwhips are mainly terrestrial, but occasionally climb trees and bushes to bask, seek prey and cover. These aggressive snakes will bite if captured. They are able to move rapidly, up to 12.8km (8 mi) per hour (Stebbins 1954, 1985, Miller and Stebbins 1964). Hawks are probable predators, and roadrunners may feed on young coachwhips. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Colubridae Genus: Masticophis Species: M. flagellum

The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the world's longest venomous snake, with a length that can be as large as 5.6 m (18.5 ft).[1] This species is quite widespread, ranging throughout south-eastern Asia and into Pakistan and India. Its genus name, Ophiophagus, literally means "snake-eater", and its diet primarily consists of other snakes, including sizeable pythons and even smaller members of its own species. The venom of the King Cobra is primarily neurotoxic, and the snake is fully capable of killing a human with a single bite.[2] The mortality rate can be as high as 75%; but most bites actually involve non-fatal amounts of venom.[2][3][4] Contents [hide] 1 Profile 2 Habitat 3 Hunting 4 Diet 5 Defense 6 Shedding 7 Venom 8 Related species 9 Worship 10 Gallery 11 Footnotes 12 External links [edit] Profile The King Cobra is a large powerfully-built snake, averaging 3.6-4 m (12-13 feet) in length typically weighing about 6 kg (13.2 lb). The record-sized wild cobra was shot in the Nakhon Sritamart Mountains of south Thailand and was 5.6 m (18.5 ft). An even larger cobra was kept captive at the London Zoo and grew to 5.7 m (18.8 ft) before being euthanized upon the outbreak of World War II [5] The skin is either olive-green, tan, or black and it has faint, pale yellow cross bands down the length of the body. The underbelly is cream or pale yellow, and the scales are smooth. The head of mature snake can be quite massive and bulky in appearance, though like all snakes, they can expand their jaws to swallow large prey items. It has proteroglyph dentition, meaning it has two short, fixed fangs in the front of the mouth which channel venom into the prey like hypodermic needles. The male is larger and thicker than the female. The average lifespan of a King Cobra is about 20 years. [edit] Habitat Widespread, but not common, across South and South-east Asia, It lives in dense highland forests.[1][6] The snake has a preference for living in areas dotted with lakes and streams. King Cobra populations have dropped in some areas of its range due to the

destruction of forests, but despite this the snake is not listed by the IUCN as in danger of becoming extinct. It is, however, listed as an Appendix II Animal within CITES.[7] Scalation of the King Cobra [edit] Hunting King Cobras, like other snakes, receive chemical information ("smell") via their forked tongues, which pick up scent particles and transfer them to a special sensory receptor (Jacobson's Organ) located in the roof of its mouth.[1] When the scent of a potential meal has been detected, the snake will continue to flick its tongue to gauge the prey's direction (the twin forks of the tongue acting in stereo); it will also rely on its keen eyesight (King Cobras are able to detect moving prey almost 100 m [300 feet] away), intelligence [8] and sensitivity to earth-borne vibration to track its prey.[9] Following envenomation, the King Cobra will begin to swallow its struggling prey while its toxins begin the digestion of its victim.[1] King Cobras, as with all other snakes, do not have rigidly fixed jaws. Instead, the jaw bones are connected by extremely pliable ligaments, enabling the lower jaw bones to move independently of each other.[1] Like other snakes, the King Cobra does not chew its food, instead it swallows its prey . The expansion of the jaw enables the snake to swallow prey much larger than its head.[1] King Cobras are able to hunt at all times of day, although it is rarely seen at night, leading most herpetologists to classify it as a diurnal species.[1][2] [edit] Diet The King Cobra's diet is mainly composed of other snakes (ophiophagy): both nonvenomous snakes such as pythons and venomous snakes including kraits and Indian Cobras.[2][10] When food is scarce, King Cobras may also feed on other small vertebrates such as lizards, birds, and rodents. In some cases, the cobra may "constrict" its prey, like birds and larger rodents using its muscular body, though its been seen rarely. [1][10] After a large meal the snake may live for many months without another one due to its slow metabolic rate.[1] [edit] Defense Adult Male King Cobra If a King Cobra encounters a natural predator, such as the mongoose, which has some resistance to the neurotoxins,[11] the cobra will generally try to flee. If all else fails, it will flatten its upper body by spreading its ribs, forming the distinctive cobra hood about its neck, and emit a high-pitched hiss, sometimes with feigned closed-mouth strikes.

These efforts usually prove to be very effective, especially since the cobra is more dangerous than other mongoose prey. [edit] Shedding Like all species of snakes, King Cobras shed their skin, typically four to six times per year as adults and every month as juveniles. To get the skin to start to peel, the King Cobra will rub its snout against rough surfaces to encourage the shedding process. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Elapidae Genus: Ophiophagus Species: O. Hannah

Morelia viridis is a non-venomous python species found in New Guinea, various islands in Indonesia, and the Cape York Peninsula in Australia. Completely arboreal with a striking green color in adults. No subspecies are currently recognized.[3]Contents [hide] 1 Description 2 Geographic range 3 Habitat 4 Conservation 5 Behavior 6 Feeding 7 Reproduction 8 Captivity 9 See also 10 References 11 External links [edit] Description M. viridis Adults average 90-120 cm (3-4 feet) in length, with a maximum grow to about 213 cm (7 ft). The supralabial scales have thermoreceptive pits.[2] The color pattern is vivid green with a broken vertebral stripe of white or dull yellow. Spots of the same color, or blue spots, may be scattered over the body. Cyanomorphs

(blue morphs) are also known to occur.[2] Juveniles are polymorphic, occuring in reddish, bright yellow and orange morphs.[4] [edit] Geographic range Found in Indonesia (Misool, Salawati, Aru Islands, Schouten Islands, most of Western New Guinea), Papua New Guinea (including nearby islands from sea level to 1,800 m elevation, Normanby Island and the d'Entrecasteaux Islands) and Australia (Queensland along the east coast of the Cape York Peninsula). The type locality given is "Aroeeilanden" (Aru Islands, Indonesia).[1] This species is sympatric with M. spilota and the two often compete in the same ecological niche. [edit] Habitat Rainforests, bushes and shrubs.[2] [edit] Conservation The largest threat to the species is habitat destruction, particularly in Western New Guinea, which is currently occupied by Indonesia and is being logged by the Indonesian government. Many of these old growth forests that they live in are also inhabited by native papuan tribes who eat the snakes. [edit] Behavior Primarily arboreal, these snakes have a particular way of resting in the branches of trees; they loop a coil or two over the branches in a saddle position and place their head in the middle. This trait is shared with the emerald tree boa, Corallus caninus, of South America. This habit, along with their appearance, has caused people to confuse the two species when seen outside their natural habitat. [edit] Feeding M. viridis The diet consists of small mammals, such as rodents, and sometimes reptiles. Despite many references in the literature, it does not include birds. Switak conducted field work on this issue and in examining stomach contents of more than 1,000 animals he did not

find any evidence of avian prey items. Prey is captured by holding onto a branch using the prehensile tail and striking out from an s-shape position. [edit] Reproduction Oviparous, with 12-25 eggs per clutch. The eggs are incubated and protected by the female, often in the hollow of a tree. Hatchlings are usually lemon yellow with broken stripes and spots of purple and brown, although golden or orange individuals may appear in the same clutch. In all cases, the color soon turns to green as snakes mature.[2] [edit] Captivity These snakes are often bred and kept in captivity, although they are usually considered an advanced species. This is due to their specific care requirements, but once these are met they thrive in captivity. The second reason they are considered advanced is from wild caught individuals that often carry parasites and rarely tame down, although captive bred individuals usually calm down. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Pythonidae Genus: Morelia Species: M. viridis

Eunectes is a genus of non-venomous boas found in tropical South America, commonly called anacondas. An aquatic group of snakes inhabiting swamps and rivers, its members include some of the largest snakes in the world. Despite this, little was known about them until recently. The name Eunectes is derived from the Greek word Eυνήκτης, which means "good swimmer." Three species are currently recognized.[2]Contents [hide] 1 Description 2 Common names 3 Geographic range 4 Reproduction 5 Captivity 6 Video Links 7 Species 8 See also 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Description There are some debates about the maximum size of these snakes. Mehrtens (1987) states that the average adult length for the green anaconda, E. murinus, is 18 to 20 feet (5.5–6.1 m), with 25 feet (7.6 m) specimens being very rare. He sets a more conservative maximum at 23 feet (7.0 m). Estimates of 35 to 40 feet (11–12 m) (see Giant anaconda) are based on vague data and should be regarded with caution.[3] In a study of 1,000 specimens captured in Venezuela, the largest was 17 feet (5.2 m) long and weighed 100 pounds (45 kg).[4] The Wildlife Conservation Society has, since the early 20th century, offered a large cash reward (currently worth US$50,000) for live delivery of any snake of 30 feet (9.1 m) or more in length. This prize has never been claimed.[5] In any case, measuring a snake that is stronger than a person is not an easy task. It was found that two scientists independently measuring the same 12-foot (3.7 m) plus snake showed a variation of more than 20% in their results.[6] [edit] Common names Local names in South America include the Spanish term "matatoro," meaning "bull killer," and the Native American terms sucuri and "yakumama." A possible origin for the common name anaconda is the Tamil anaikondran, meaning "elephant killer", or anaikkonda, meaning "having killed an elephant". A name first used in English to name a Ceylonese python, it erroneously was applied to a large South American boa, called in Brazil "sucuri". The word is of uncertain origin, and no snake name like it now is found in Sinhalese or Tamil. Another suggestion is that it represents Tamil. It is unclear how this name originated so far from the snake's native habitat; possibly this is due to its vague similarity to the large Asian pythons. [edit] Geographic range Found in tropical South America from Colombia and Venezuela south to Argentina.[1] [edit] Reproduction Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (August 2008) Ovoviviparous, with females giving birth to live young. [edit]

Captivity There have been very few instances of this species being bred in captivity. In October 2007, the New England Aquarium in Boston achieved a breakthrough when it was discovered that one of their females was gravid. Fourteen young were born on January 1, 2008. [edit] Video Links [edit] SpeciesSpecies[2] Taxon author[2] Subsp.*[2] Common name Geographic range[1] E. deschauenseei Dunn & Conant, 1936 0 Dark-spotted anaconda South America in northeastern Brazil and coastal French Guiana. E. murinusT (Linnaeus, 1758) 1 Green anaconda South America in countries east of the Andes, including Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil and on the island of Trinidad. E. notaeus Cope, 1862 0 Yellow anaconda South America in eastern Bolivia, southern Brazil, Paraguay and northeastern Argentina. In Argentina it is found in the provinces of Corrientes, Chaco, Entre Rios, Formosa, Misiones and Santa Fe. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Boidae Subfamily: Boinae Genus: Eunectes Wagler, 1830