''Phrynonax poecilonotus'' is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of nonvenomous snake in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Colubridae. The species is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to the

New World The term ''New World'' is often used to mean the majority of Earth's Western Hemisphere, specifically the Americas."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: Oxford University Press, p. ...

Common names

''P. poecilonotus'' is commonly known in

Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated south of ...

as ''dos cocorite'', in Brazil as ''papa-ovo'', and in English as the puffing snake or the bird snake.

Geographic range

''P. poecilonotus'' is found from

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

through

Central America Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...

to northern and central

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...

and

Diet

''P. poecilonotus'' apparently eats any

terrestrial Terrestrial refers to things related to land or the planet Earth. Terrestrial may also refer to: * Terrestrial animal, an animal that lives on land opposed to living in water, or sometimes an animal that lives on or near the ground, as opposed to ...

vertebrate Vertebrates () comprise all animal taxa within the subphylum Vertebrata () (chordates with backbones), including all mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Vertebrates represent the overwhelming majority of the phylum Chordata, with c ...

small enough to handle and is well known as a predator of bird eggs (hence some of the common names).

Description

''P. poecilonotus'' is one of the most variable snakes in the world. For about the first year of their life, they look very dull in color, and even look all the same upon hatching. for the first four years of their life, the snake's appearance will change rapidly, from slate grey and yellow, to slate and orange, ect. Past the first four years of life, changes will be very slow, but they will change in appearance. The snakes can be combinations of black with red, orange, yellow, and/or lavender, or slate and red, yellow, orange, and/or lavender. However, when handled, their behavior is similar, and they will readily bite.

References

* Boulenger GA (1894). ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ.'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I-XX. (''Phrynonax pœcilonotus'', new combination, p. 20). * Freiberg M (1982). ''Snakes of South America''. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications. 189 pp. . (''Pseustes poecilonotus'', p. 108 + color photo on p. 151). * Günther A (1858). ''Catalogue of the Colubrine Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum.'' London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xvi + 281 pp. (''Spilotes pœcilonotus'', new species, pp. 100–101). *Jadin, Robert C.; Burbrink, Frank T.; Rivas, Gilson A.; Vitt, Laurie J.; Barrio-Amorós, César L.; Guralnick, Robert P. (2013). "Finding arboreal snakes in an evolutionary tree: phylogenetic placement and systematic revision of the Neotropical birdsnakes". ''Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research'' 52 (3): 257-264. {{Taxonbar, from=Q28320888 Colubrids Fauna of the Amazon Snakes of Central America Snakes of South America Reptiles of Belize Reptiles of Brazil Reptiles of Colombia Reptiles of Costa Rica Reptiles of Ecuador Reptiles of French Guiana Reptiles of Guatemala Reptiles of Guyana Reptiles of Honduras Reptiles of Mexico Reptiles of Nicaragua Reptiles of Panama Reptiles of Peru Reptiles of Suriname Reptiles of Trinidad and Tobago Reptiles of Venezuela Reptiles described in 1858 Taxa named by Albert Günther

Common names

Geographic range

Diet

Description

References

Further reading