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Hognoses
Species Descriptions Full
descriptions of the various species of Hognosed snakes
Photographs Pictures
of the world's most beautiful and unusual Hognosed
snakes
Summary
This is one of two of the most commonly kept species of tricolored hognosed snake. Both Lystrophis pulcher and Lystrophis matogrossensis have been misrepresented as Lystrophis semicinctus, a species which is not legally exported for the pet trade. For positive identification, without knowing the locality where the snake was captured, scale counts are the only sure method of confirming the species. .
South American Tricolored Hognosed Snake (Lystrophis pulcher )
Dorsal view of L. pulche. Holotype example.
Hatlchling Lystrophis pulcher Photo by Tim Rainwater
View of subadult Lystrophis pulcher.
Ventral view of juvenile Lystrophis pulcher from Bolivia.
Photo by Dick Embert.
Ventral view of dark phase Lystrophis pulcher
Photo by Cyborgsuzy
Sidel view of adult Lystrophis pulcher. This adult has 12 pairs of black bands Photo by Dennis Desmond
Dorsolateral View of Lystrophis pulcher - notice black-tipped scales. Photo by Dennis Desmond
Dorsolateral View of Lystrophis pulcher - notice black-tipped scales. Photo by Dennis Desmond
View of Lystrophis pulcher - this speciment has 9 annuli. Photo by Dennis Desmond
Subadult Lystrophis pulcher - white bands are still bright at this age. Photo by Dennis Desmond
This photo shows the eventual darkening and loss of white that occurs as this color phase of L. pulcher mature.. Photo by Dennis Desmond
This side view photo shows the a characteristic saddle that develops on the nape and the virtual loss of the white masking stripes that are present on L matogrossensis and L semicinctus.. Photo by Dennis Desmond
Note the iridescent sheen to the adult L. pulcher. This is common with many fossorial snakes from the Central Mexico, South American region. As the adult continues to mature, white bands are lost and the ventral surface darkens as well. Photo by Dennis Desmond
This is a less typical adult Lystrophis pulcher where the white has disappeared completely and only the red and black bands remain.. Photo by Dennis Desmond
A young specimen where the red is slowly being replaced by black. The specimen will darken as it ages. Photo by Dennis Desmond
A very dark morph where most of the red has been replaced by black. Photo by Dennis Desmond
A very dark morph where most of the red has been replaced by black. Photo by Dennis Desmond
A very dark morph where most of the red has been replaced by black. Bands number 11. Photo by Cyborgsuzy
Ventral view of dark phase Lystrophis pulcher
Photo by Cyborgsuzy
Based on studies and reporting from Dr. G.J. Scrocchi and F.
B. Cruz of the Instituto de Herpetolgia, Fundacion Miguel Lillo,
Tucaman, Republica Argentina, it appears as though most of the
tricolor snakes sold as Lystrophis semicinctus, are, in actuality,
either L. pulcher or Lystrophis matogrossensis.
A recent Reptiles magazine even misidentified a Lystrophis
pulcher as a Lystrophis semicinctus in its identify this column
showing that even mainstream publications are often in error.
Photo
Credits
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