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Material on this page was provided by Paul Smith and Hugo del Castillo and is used with their permission.
DIAMONDBACK FLAME SNAKE Oxyrhopus rhombifer
Named for the rhomboid pattern on the dorsal surface this is one of a number of non-venomous snakes that mimic the deadly Coral Snakes of the family Micruridae - though admittedly it is one of the less convincing mimics!. This species inhabits dry areas in the Chaco and southern Paraguay, where it is terrestrial and nocturnal. Extremely tame, this species makes no attempt to bite, relying on its mimicry for defence.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
(FPREP578PH) FIGURE 1 - Adult typical, PN Tte Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith July 2011).
(FPREP579PH) FIGURE 2 - Same individual head detail (Paul Smith July 2011).
(FPREP412PH) FIGURE 3 - Adult melanistic, PN Defensores del Chaco, Departamento Alto Paraguay (Hugo del Castillo August 2010).
(FPREP580PH) VIDEO - Adult typical, PN Tte Enciso, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith July 2011).
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