Neuwied's Tree Snake (Dipsas neuwiedi)

Location: Recife-PE, Brazil.

Neuwied's Tree Snake - Dipsas neuwiedi

Dipsas neuwiedi is a small species of non-poisonous snake in the family Dipsadidae endemic to the Atlantic Forest. It occurs along almost the entire Brazilian coast. It is a terrestrial species with nocturnal habits. Due to its color pattern, it is often confused with jararaca species, but it is completely harmless. It feeds preponderantly on mollusks. This species has morphological adaptations on its skull and mandibles that assist in removing gastropods from their shells.

A very striking feature of this snake is its eyeballs, which are very eye-catching. This snake has a light yellowish brown background color with trapezoids drawn on the back. Its body is laterally compressed.

Defense Mechanism

Even though it doesn't inoculate venom, the dormouse has a defense mechanism to intimidate when it feels threatened. It tries to look like a venomous snake by triangulating its head, making a jaw expanding movement. It can also hide by wrapping itself around a part of its body and giving a lunge or evacuating its feces out of fear and stress.

Until 2018, the species was classified in the genus Sibynomorphus. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the species should be classified as Dipsas.

Taxonomy

Animals Kingdom Animalia

Chordates Phylum Chordata

Vertebrates Subphylum Vertebrata

Reptiles Class Reptilia

Snakes and Lizards Order Squamata

Snakes Suborder Serpentes

Colubrid Snakes Family Colubridae

Dipsadine Snakes Subfamily Dipsadinae

Snail-Eaters Genus Dipsas

Neuwied's Tree Snake Dipsas neuwiedi

Higher Taxa Colubridae (Dipsadinae), Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes)

#jararaquinha

Dipsas neuwiedi é uma pequena espécie de serpente não peçonhenta da família Dipsadidae endêmica da Mata Atlântica. Ocorre ao longo de praticamente toda a costa brasileira. É uma espécie terrestre e possui hábitos noturnos. Devido ao seu padrão de cores, é frequentemente confundida com espécies de jararaca, mas é totalmente inofensiva. Alimenta-se preponderantemente de moluscos. Esta espécie possui adaptações morfológicas no crânio e mandibulas as quais auxiliam na remoção de gastrópodes de suas conchas.

Até 2018, a espécie era classificada no gênero Sibynomorphus. Análises filogenéticas indicaram que a espécie deve ser classificada como Dipsas.

Em algumas localidades do Brasil esta espécie é conhecida como cobra dormideira ou jararaquinha.