Borikenophis portoricensis

Borikenophis portoricensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Suborder:Serpentes
Family:Colubridae
Genus:Borikenophis
Species: B. portoricensis
Binomial name
Borikenophis portoricensis
(Reinhardt and Lütken, 1863)[1]
Synonyms[1]

Alsophis portoricensis Reinhardt and Lütken, 1863

Borikenophis portoricensis[1] (Vernacular Spanish: Culebra Corredora;[2] Vernacular English: Puerto Rican racer[3]) is a snake that grows to 3 feet.

Appearance and range

It slinks around in the trees of the Toro Negro State Forest. Its body sports a solid brown color with each of his scales edged by a darker brown. The Puerto Rican racer also possesses a neck hood similar, but narrower, to that of a cobra which it exposes by raising the front quarters of their bodies off the ground in a manner similar to that genus.[4] However, unlike the Naja snakes, B. portoricensis does not gratuitously exhibit this behavior as an intimidation tactic and generally employs it while engaging on offensive behavior after being provoked, which typically involves adopting the posture followed by an emboldened strike.[5]

Like the forest's other various garden snakes, it is a daytime hunter.[6] Once it captures its prey, B. portoricensis has a tendency of relocating it prior to feeding.[5] Although still susceptible to infection, it is more resistant to parasites than other local snakes, allowing it to survive exclusively on lizards.[5] The Puerto Rican Racer is endemic to the island of Puerto Rico. It is capable of inflicting a venomous bite.[7] The severity of its poison depends on the susceptibility of the victim, it is capable of fully paralyzing small reptiles and rodents rendering them helpless for consumption, but in humans its effects ranges from mild swelling to immobilization and severe numbness that may last up to a month.[5] No fatalities have been reported from the bite of a Puerto Rican racer.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Uetz, Peter; Hallermann, Jakob. "Borikenophis portoricensis". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
  2. ↑ Volume 1: Land Cover, Vertebrate Species Distributions, and Land Stewardship. William A. Gould, Caryl Alarcón, Brick Fevold, Michael E. Jiménez, Sebastián Martinuzzi, Gary Potts, Maya Quiñones, Mariano Solórzano, and Eduardo Ventosa. The Puerto Rico Gap Analysis Project. (Publication Number: IITF-GTR-39) USDA. Forest Service. International Institute of Tropical Forestry. March 2008. Page 140. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  3. ↑ 2007 Wildlife Facts - Puerto Rican Racer. USDA. Forest Service. "El Yunque National Forest." Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  4. ↑
  5. 1 2 3 4 5
  6. ↑ Animals in the Toro Negro Forest. Archived December 30, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Amy M. Armstrong. Demand Media. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  7. ↑ García-Gubern, C.; Bello, R.; Rivera, V.; Rocafort, A.; Colon-Rolon, L.; Acosta-Tapia, H. (Dec 2010). "Is the Puerto Rican racer, Alsophis portoricensis, really harmless? A case report series". Wilderness Environ Med. 21 (4): 353–6. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2010.07.001. PMID 21168790.
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