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.
Material on this page was provided by Paul Smith and Arne Lesterhuis and is 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.
Gallery 1 Mussurana bicolor adult
FIGURE 1a - (FPREP920PH) Adult, Cruce Pioneros, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith April 2015).
FIGURE 1b - (FPREP921PH) Same individual as (FPREP920PH) lateral (Paul Smith April 2015).
FIGURE 1c - (FPREP922PH) Same individual as (FPREP920PH) dorsal (Paul Smith April 2015).
FIGURE 1d - (FPREP923PH) Same individual as (FPREP920PH) head lateral (Paul Smith April 2015).
FIGURE 1e - (FPREP924PH) Same individual as (FPREP920PH) head dorsal (Paul Smith April 2015).
FIGURE 1f - (FPREP925PH) Same individual as (FPREP920PH) scale detail (Paul Smith April 2015).
VIDEO - (FPREP926VI) Same individual as (FPREP920PH) (Paul Smith April 2015).
FIGURE 1a

FIGURE 1a
FIGURE 1b

FIGURE 1b
FIGURE 1c

FIGURE 1c
FIGURE 1d

FIGURE 1d
FIGURE 1e

FIGURE 1e
FIGURE 1f

FIGURE 1f
Gallery 2 Mussurana bicolor juvenile
FIGURE 2a - (FPREP531PH) Juvenile dorsal view, Asunción, Departamento Central (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 2b - (FPREP532PH) Same individual ventral view  (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 2c - (FPREP533PH) Same individual lateral head view  (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 2d - (FPREP534PH) Same individual dorsal head view  (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 2e - (FPREP535PH) Same individual head view  (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 2f - (FPREP536PH) Same individual head view  (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 2g - (FPREP537PH) Same individual front of body  (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 2h - (FPREP538PH) Same individual ventral head view  (Arne Lesterhuis February 2011).
FIGURE 2a

FIGURE 2a
FIGURE 2b

FIGURE 2b
FIGURE 2c

FIGURE 2c
FIGURE 2d

FIGURE 2d
FIGURE 2e

FIGURE 2e
FIGURE 2f

FIGURE 2f
FIGURE 2g

FIGURE 2g
FIGURE 2h

FIGURE 2h