Calico False Coral Snake

Oxyrhopus petolarius, commonly known as the false coral snake, is a captivating species from the Colubridae family. This snake is indigenous to South America and is classified into three recognized subspecies. O. petolarius inhabits central and northern South America, extending its range to Trinidad and Tobago. They thrive in both forested and savanna environments, ranging from sea level to elevations of up to 2,000 meters.

When fully grown, these snakes can reach a length of up to 91 cm, with their tails comprising approximately 22 cm of that length. They display a striking pattern of red and black rings or crossbands, although some individuals exhibit white crossbands on the anterior portion of their bodies instead of red. Their smooth dorsal scales, which have small pits at the tips, are arranged in 19 rows around the midsection.

The three subspecies of O. petolarius are Oxyrhopus petolarius digitalis, Oxyrhopus petolarius petola, and Oxyrhopus petolarius sebae. The names in parentheses indicate that these subspecies were initially described under different genera before being reclassified under Oxyrhopus.