Chironius multiventris

Chironius multiventris
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Chironius
Species:	C. multiventris
Binomial name
Chironius multiventris Schmidt & Walker, 1943

Chironius multiventris, commonly known as the long-tailed machete savane, is species of colubrid snake.

Geographic range

It is found in Peru, northern Venezuela, Colombia in the Guainía and Trinidad and Tobago.

Description

The body is elongate, and strongly laterally compressed. The tail is long, as the common name implies. The dorsum is olive to light brown. There is a narrow whitish, black-edged, vertebral stripe. The upper labials and the ventrum are yellowish.

The ventrals are 178–183, and the subcaudals are 172–202. (Both these counts are higher than in C. carinatus.) The dorsal scales are arranged in 12 rows anteriorly and at midbody, in 10 rows posteriorly. (C. carinatus has 8 rows posteriorly.)

Adults may attain a total length of 136 cm (4 ft 6 in), with a tail 56 cm (22 in) long.^[2]

Diet

Chironius multiventris feeds on frogs.

Notes

1. Ortega, A.; Hoogmoed, M.; Cisneros-Heredia, D.F.; Catenazzi, A.; Nogueira, C.; Schargel, W.; Rivas, G. (2019). "Chironius multiventris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T44580143A44580148. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T44580143A44580148.en. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
2. Schmidt, K.P. and W.F. Walker. 1943. Peruvian snakes from the University of Arequipa. Zoological Series of Field Museum of Zoology 24(26):279-296.

References

Boos, Hans E.A. (2001). The snakes of Trinidad and Tobago. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX. ISBN 1-58544-116-3.