LICHTENSTEIN´S GREEN RACER Philodryas olfersii FAUNA PARAGUAY

LICHTENSTEIN´S GREEN RACER Philodryas olfersii
This bright green snake is somewhat arboreal in behaviour, his colouration affording him excellent camouflage as he makes his way through the branches of the trees. However he is equally at home on the ground where he moves rapidly across open areas. This species is poisonous, its toxic saliva subduing prey. It prefers to use its speed to escape, but when cornered it does not hesitate to strike, giving a painful bite that has even been recorded as causing occasional mortalities.

FIGURE 1 - Adult slightly decomposed ssp. latirostris, Encarnación, Departamento Itapúa (Paul Smith April 2008).
FIGURE 2 - Same individual head detail (Paul Smith April 2008).

FIGURE 1

FIGURE 2

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