About Rhadinaea decorata (Günther, 1858)
Members of the snake species Rhadinaea decorata are generally brown, with dark lines running along the sides of their bodies, and often an additional similar marking running down the spine. These two dark streaks are usually separated by a tan-colored stripe. A white marking behind the eyes gives this species its scientific name. In populations of this species found further south in its distribution range, this white marking is longer and continuous along the rest of the body. Notable features of Rhadinaea decorata include a long tail, which makes up a maximum of 47% of the snake's total body length. Compared to other related species, R. decorata has a smaller number of ventral scales; counts from collected specimens range between 110 and 134 ventral scales. The maximum recorded total length of Rhadinaea decorata is 470 mm, though lengths over 400 mm are not typical. This species typically has around 20 maxillary teeth, followed by two larger posterior teeth. Rhadinaea decorata has a geographic range that extends from central Mexico south to Ecuador. It is one of the most widely distributed species in its genus. It occurs mostly in the Atlantic watershed, with only a few specimens recorded from the Pacific slope of Costa Rica. It is the only species in its species group that is not endemic to Mexico. Multiple studies have found evidence indicating that R. decorata breeds throughout most of the year. However, this species does not appear to lay more than one small clutch of eggs per year.
