About Oxyrhopus petolarius (Linnaeus, 1758)
Adults of Oxyrhopus petolarius can reach a total length of 91 cm (36 in), with a tail that measures 22 cm (8.7 in) long. This species has variable coloration, which usually combines red and black rings or crossbands. In some individuals, the light-colored crossbands on the front part of the body are white instead of red. The dorsal scales are smooth, have apical pits, and are arranged in 19 rows at midbody. Oxyrhopus petolarius occurs in central and northern South America, including the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Its preferred natural habitats are forest and savanna, found at altitudes ranging from sea level up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft). Oxyrhopus petolarius is oviparous, meaning it reproduces by laying eggs.
