Spilotes pullatus

Chicken eater ( Spilotes pullatus )

The chicken eater ( Spilotes pullatus ) is the only species of the monotypic genus Spilotes. Was first described the species in 1758 by the Swedish scientist Carl Linnaeus.

Features

The chicken -eater is a powerful snake and reaches a length of 250 to 300 cm. Its body is relatively slim built, despite the size and laterally flattened. The narrow head is only slightly away from the body, large eyes have round pupils. The basic color is green black, the body is drawn very variable, usually striped orange side. The belly is yellowish to orange, behind the head stands on each side a strip, the muzzle is usually orange. Characteristic is the number of paired dorsal scale rows and a lack Vertebralreihe.

Way of life

The chicken eater performs a diurnal and predominantly arboreal ( arboreal ) lifestyle. In distress driven to defend himself by bite attacks. He goes both on the ground and in shrubs and trees to actively foraging. His range of prey include birds, lizards, other snakes, amphibians and small mammals and eggs. The name derives from the fact that the chicken eaters well captured even poultry. The species is oviparous, that is oviparous. The nest may comprise 15 to 25 eggs.

Dissemination

The range extends from southern Mexico south to northern Argentina. The habitats of the chicken -eater are dry scrub, gallery forests and tropical rain forests, typically near water. Synanthropic he often occurs in the vicinity of human settlements.