Senticolis
Genus of snakes
Senticolis is a genus of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The genus Senticolis is monotypic, containing the sole species Senticolis triaspis, also known as the green rat snake. The species is endemic to Central America, Mexico, southern Arizona, and southern New Mexico.
01Description
Senticolis triaspis may grow to a total length (including tail) of 160 cm (63 in). Dorsally, it is green or olive green, and ventrally it is light yellow. The head is elongated, the body is slender, and the smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 31-39 rows.
02Habitat
Senticolis triaspis usually inhabits evergreen forests and grassland.
03Geographic range
Senticolis triaspis is well distributed in the Baboquivari, Pajarito, Atascosa, Santa Rita, Empire, Patagonia, Chiricahua, Swisshelm, Pedregosa, and Peloncillo mountains of southeastern Arizona.
04Diet
Senticolis triaspis consumes small animals such as lizards, birds, and bats, killing them by deadly constriction.
05Behavior
Senticolis triaspis is primarily diurnal.
06Reproduction
An adult female of S. triaspis is able to lay up to nine eggs in a clutch.
07Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
- Senticolis triaspis intermedia (Boettger, 1883), Arizona, New Mexico, northern Mexico
- Senticolis triaspis mutabilis (Cope, 1885), Central America
- Senticolis triaspis triaspis (Cope, 1866), southern Mexico
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Senticolis.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Senticolis”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- Northern Green Ratsnake (Senticolis triaspis intermedia).jpg by Andrew DuBois, CC BY-SA 4.0
Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.