Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this page were taken by Arne Lesterhuis and are used with permission.
BICOLOURED MUSSURANA Mussurana bicolor
Formerly placed in the genus Clelia, this handsome snake-eating snake has now been "rehoused" in the new genus Mussurana. Like other snakes in this group the juvenile and adult are quite different. Juveniles of this species are red, adults are black with red ventral surface. If in doubt count the ventral scales. This species can be distinguished on account of its low ventral scale count - typically 165 to 187 - when compared to other members of the genus and other Clelia. Mussurana are snake-eating snakes, but tame and inoffensive when faced with man, making them popular pets.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPREP531PH) Juvenile dorsal view, Asunción, Departamento Central (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 2 - (FPREP532PH) Same individual ventral view (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 3 - (FPREP533PH) Same individual lateral head view  (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 4 - (FPREP534PH) Same individual dorsal head view  (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 5 - (FPREP535PH) Same individual head view  (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 6 - (FPREP536PH) Same individual head view  (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 7 - (FPREP537PH) Same individual front of body  (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 8 - (FPREP538PH) Same individual ventral head view  (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 1

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2

FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3

FIGURE 3
FIGURE 4

FIGURE 4
FIGURE 5

FIGURE 5
FIGURE 6

FIGURE 6
FIGURE 7

FIGURE 7
FIGURE 8

FIGURE 8