Neotropical Hognosed Snake (Lystrophis nattereri)

SPECIES

Lystrophis nattereri

SYNONYMS:

Heterodon nattereri STEINDACHNER 1867: 90

Philodryas nattereri ?

SUBSPECIES:

none

FAMILY:

Serpentes: Colubridae

DISTRIBUTION:

Terra typica: Brazil

COMMENT:

Previously synonymized with Lystrophis histricus. Revalidated by HOGE et al. (1976) but synonymized again by CEI 1993 and others.

HABITAT:

As with its North American cousins, South American Lystrophis prefer sandy soils with shortgrass growth. All members of Lystrophis are burrowers and spend much of their time beneath the surface in search of amphibians, lizards, their eggs, and larvae.

PREDATORS:

The main natural predators of Lystrophis are coatí mundis, mustelids (weasels and ferrets), wild cats and raptors such as hawks, owls, and eagles, in addition to other snakes such as coral snakes and musuranas.

CHARACTERISTICS

As with other hognoses, if cornered, Lystrophis nattereri spreads it neck, creating a small hood, inflates its body and curls the end of its tail into a ring, showing the red and black banded ventral color. Lystrophis nattereri will also hiss loudly and emit a foul smelling odor.

FEEDING BEHAVIOR

Lystrophis nattereri feeds on small amphibians & reptiles including reptile eggs, and as neonates, occasionally insects.

 

REFERENCES:

Hoge, Cordeiro, Romano (1976)
Mem. Inst. Butantan 39 [1975]: 37-50

Steindachner, F. (1867)
In: Reise der Österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858,1859 unter den Befehlen des Commodore B. von Wüllerstorf-Urbair (Zoologie), Vol. 1, part 3 (Reptilien p.1-98)
K. Gerold's Sohn/Kaiserlich-Königl. Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, Wien.

DESCRIPTION:

Lystrophis nattereri is a small terrestrial xenodontid snake that occurs from central to southern Brazil. This is a small to medium sized snake distinguished from other colubrids by the upturned rostrum. The upturned snout is thought to enable the snakes to burrow more easily after toads and small lizards. The pupils are circular and dark. Dark bands overlay a lighter brown or khaki ground color. The color pattern of Lystrophis nattereri is similar to the syntopic pitviper (Bothrops itapetiningae) suggesting Lystrophis nattereri is a mimic of the former. The geographic ranges of the two species are largely coincident.

Cynthia A Brasileiro and Marcio Martins, Departmento de Ecologica, Instituto de Biociencias, reports an instance of predation on Lystrophis nattereri by the white-tailed hawk (Buteo albicaudatus). Generally there have been no reports provided of predation on this species. The snake was crossing an unpaved road which transected a pristine flooded grassland near Itirapina Ecological Station.

Lystrophis nattereri was collected in some localities of the state in the first half of the century (to see Hoge et al., 1975) rather commonly. However, it seems to have experienced a drastic reduction of in the last few decades indicating a drastic population decline.

CARE SHEET

CARE SHEET

REFERENCES