ECCB 315 Lab Snakes 1

Common Name: Speckled Worm Lizard

Order: Squamata

Clade: Amphisbaenia

Family: Amphisbaenidae

Genus and Species: Amphisbaena fuliginosa

Family Characterisitics: worm-like and annulate, limbless, total absence of fore and hindlimb skeletons, caudal autotomy but tail does not regrow

Species Identification: rings of scales encircle body, scales cover eyes, no external ear, head is rounded/blunt, dark mottling on body

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Florida Worm Lizard

Order: Squamata

Clade: Amphisbaenia

Family: Rhineuridae

Genus and Species: Rhineura floridana

Family Characterisitics: worm-like and annulate, vestiges of pelvic and pectoral girdles persist, short tail with no autotomy

Species Identification: pink, shovel-shaped head

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Common Name: Texas Blind Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Leptotyphlopidae

Genus and Species: Rena dulcis

Family Characterisitics: blunt heads, vestigial eyes covered by true scales, cylindrical body, short/blunt tails often tipped with a spine, smooth/shiny scales, pelivc vestiges present, teeth only on mandible, solid skull

Species Identification: small size, single anterior supralabial

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Coral Cylinder Snakes

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Aniliidae

Genus and Species: Anilius scytal

Family Characterisitics: black and red abnds, small eyes, large head shield, body round to triangular in cross section, cloacal spurs present, enlarged ventral plates, lacks spectacles over eyes

Species Identification: blunt head and tail, black and red eings, reduced eyes

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Mexican Burrowing Python

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Loxocemidae

Genus and Species: Loxocemus bicolor

Family Characterisitics: distinctly bicolored with a dark dorsum and creamy white venter, smooth scales, vestigial pelvis present with cloacal spurs, shovel-shaped snout

Species Identification: dark and unpattern back with light belly, shovel-shaped nose, elongate gular scales border mental groove, prefrontal meets superlabial

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Common Name: Boa Constrictor

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Boidae

Genus and Species: Boa constrictor

Family Characterisitics: generally heavy bodied snakes with smooth and glossy scales, vertical pupils, vestiges of the hind limbs are present and usually visual (especially in male snakes) as small spurs on each side of the vent, labial pits are located between the labial scales

Species Identification: dorsum with brown or reddish brown crossbands that become more pronounced at the tail

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Green Anaconda

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Boidae

Genus and Species: Eunectes murinus

Family Characterisitics: generally heavy bodied snakes with smooth and glossy scales, vertical pupils, vestiges of the hind limbs are present and usually visual (especially in male snakes) as small spurs on each side of the vent, labial pits are located between the labial scales

Species Identification: dark circles on green back, dark ringed circles on sides, eyes set high on head

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Emerald Tree Boa

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Boidae

Genus and Species: Corallus caninus

Family Characterisitics: generally heavy bodied snakes with smooth and glossy scales, vertical pupils, vestiges of the hind limbs are present and usually visual (especially in male snakes) as small spurs on each side of the vent, labial pits are located between the labial scales

Species Identification: light interrupted "lightning bolt" stripes on dark background of dorsum

Way to Remember:

Common Name: African Burrowing Python

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Boidae

Genus and Species: Calabaria reinhardti

Family Characterisitics: generally heavy bodied snakes with smooth and glossy scales, vertical pupils, vestiges of the hind limbs are present and usually visual (especially in male snakes) as small spurs on each side of the vent, labial pits are located between the labial scales

Species Identification: blunt head and tail with enlarged shields, mottled body, no mental groove

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Northern Rubber Boa

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Boidae

Genus and Species: Charina bottae

Family Characterisitics: generally heavy bodied snakes with smooth and glossy scales, vertical pupils, vestiges of the hind limbs are present and usually visual (especially in male snakes) as small spurs on each side of the vent, labial pits are located between the labial scales

Species Identification: largely unpatterened body, stubby tail, 3 scales present between eyes with the middle being the largest

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Rosy Boa

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Boidae

Genus and Species: Lichanura trivirgata

Family Characterisitics: generally heavy bodied snakes with smooth and glossy scales, vertical pupils, vestiges of the hind limbs are present and usually visual (especially in male snakes) as small spurs on each side of the vent, labial pits are located between the labial scales

Species Identification: venter predominately dark, lace-like pattern, several small scales of equal size between eyes

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Burmese Python

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Pythonidae

Genus and Species: Python bivittatus

Family Characterisitics: large to giant heavy bodied snakes with smooth and glossy scales, vertical pupils, vestiges of the hind limbs are present and usually visual (especially in male snakes) as small spurs on each side of the vent, labial pits are present within the labial scales

Species Identification: dark spearhead shape on top of head continuing to snout, giraffe-like pattern, dark wedges between eyes

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Reticulated Python

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Pythonidae

Genus and Species: Python reticulatus

Family Characterisitics: large to giant heavy bodied snakes with smooth and glossy scales, vertical pupils, vestiges of the hind limbs are present and usually visual (especially in male snakes) as small spurs on each side of the vent, labial pits are present within the labial scales

Species Identification: dark-ringed blotches on light back, head with thin stripe

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Ball Python

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Pythonidae

Genus and Species: Python regius

Family Characterisitics: large to giant heavy bodied snakes with smooth and glossy scales, vertical pupils, vestiges of the hind limbs are present and usually visual (especially in male snakes) as small spurs on each side of the vent, labial pits are present within the labial scales

Species Identification: light blotches on dark back, head with dark pattern

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Javan File Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Acrochordidae

Genus and Species: Acrochordus javanicus

Family Characterisitics: aquatic snake with very small strongly keeled scales that give skin the texture of a file, skin is loose and baggy, the skin glattens into a fin-like shape when the snake skins, ventral scales are only mildly enlarged and the tail is slightly compressed

Species Identification: tiny pyramidal scales, loose baggy skin, eyes sit dorsally, striped stomach

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Asp

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Viperidae

Subfamily: Viperinae

Genus and Species: Vipera aspis

Family Characterisitics: subfamily lacks loreal pits between nose and eyes, wedge-shaped heads that bulge at the side with venom glands, heavy bodied snakes, solenoglyphous dentition (enlarged, front fangs that can be rotated back to lie flat against roof of mouth)

Species Identification: short pointed tail, broad triangular head, upturned snout, long and thin partial stripes on body

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Terciopelo

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Viperidae

Subfamily: Crotalinae

Genus and Species: Bothrops asper

Family Characterisitics: subfamily has loreal pits between nose and eyes, subfamily has heat-sensitive pit below the nostril that can be used to located endothermic prey, wedge-shaped heads that bulge at the side with venom glands, heavy bodied snakes, solenoglyphous dentition (enlarged, front fangs that can be rotated back to lie flat against roof of mouth)

Species Identification: long pointed tail, broad flattened head, orbital stripe, lateral triangle-shaped blotches

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Cottonmouth; Water Moccasin

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Viperidae

Subfamily: Crotalinae

Genus and Species: Agkistrodon piscivorus

Family Characterisitics: subfamily has loreal pits between nose and eyes, subfamily has heat-sensitive pit below the nostril that can be used to located endothermic prey, wedge-shaped heads that bulge at the side with venom glands, heavy bodied snakes, solenoglyphous dentition (enlarged, front fangs that can be rotated back to lie flat against roof of mouth)

Species Identification: no loreal scale, no head markings, pattern becomes closer at the tail, dark belly

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Copperhead

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Viperidae

Subfamily: Crotalinae

Genus and Species: Agkistrodon contortrix

Family Characterisitics: subfamily has loreal pits between nose and eyes, subfamily has heat-sensitive pit below the nostril that can be used to located endothermic prey, wedge-shaped heads that bulge at the side with venom glands, heavy bodied snakes, solenoglyphous dentition (enlarged, front fangs that can be rotated back to lie flat against roof of mouth)

Species Identification: hourglass/hershey kiss shaped bands, 23 scale rows midbody

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Black-Tailed Rattlesnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Viperidae

Subfamily: Crotalinae

Genus and Species: Crotalus molossus

Family Characterisitics: subfamily has loreal pits between nose and eyes, subfamily has heat-sensitive pit below the nostril that can be used to located endothermic prey, wedge-shaped heads that bulge at the side with venom glands, heavy bodied snakes, solenoglyphous dentition (enlarged, front fangs that can be rotated back to lie flat against roof of mouth)

Species Identification: first 6-10 dorsal blotches are seperated by a light medial spot, black gradient tail

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Viperidae

Subfamily: Crotalinae

Genus and Species: Crotalus atrox

Family Characterisitics: subfamily has loreal pits between nose and eyes, subfamily has heat-sensitive pit below the nostril that can be used to located endothermic prey, wedge-shaped heads that bulge at the side with venom glands, heavy bodied snakes, solenoglyphous dentition (enlarged, front fangs that can be rotated back to lie flat against roof of mouth)

Species Identification: striped tail, triangle/diamond shapes on back, first infralabial not divided

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Mohave Rattlesnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Viperidae

Subfamily: Crotalinae

Genus and Species: Crotalus scutulatus

Family Characterisitics: subfamily has loreal pits between nose and eyes, subfamily has heat-sensitive pit below the nostril that can be used to located endothermic prey, wedge-shaped heads that bulge at the side with venom glands, heavy bodied snakes, solenoglyphous dentition (enlarged, front fangs that can be rotated back to lie flat against roof of mouth)

Species Identification: scales on snout betwee supraoculars enlarged, dark tail rings that are narrower than light rings

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Timber Rattlesnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Viperidae

Subfamily: Crotalinae

Genus and Species: Crotalus horridus

Family Characterisitics: subfamily has loreal pits between nose and eyes, subfamily has heat-sensitive pit below the nostril that can be used to located endothermic prey, wedge-shaped heads that bulge at the side with venom glands, heavy bodied snakes, solenoglyphous dentition (enlarged, front fangs that can be rotated back to lie flat against roof of mouth)

Species Identification: black tail, dorsum with cheveron pattern

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Prairie Rattlesnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Viperidae

Subfamily: Crotalinae

Genus and Species: Crotalus viridis

Family Characterisitics: subfamily has loreal pits between nose and eyes, subfamily has heat-sensitive pit below the nostril that can be used to located endothermic prey, wedge-shaped heads that bulge at the side with venom glands, heavy bodied snakes, solenoglyphous dentition (enlarged, front fangs that can be rotated back to lie flat against roof of mouth)

Species Identification: subrectangular blotches with even edges and light colored narrow borders

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Rock Rattlesnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Viperidae

Subfamily: Crotalinae

Genus and Species: Crotalus lepidus

Family Characterisitics: subfamily has loreal pits between nose and eyes, subfamily has heat-sensitive pit below the nostril that can be used to located endothermic prey, wedge-shaped heads that bulge at the side with venom glands, heavy bodied snakes, solenoglyphous dentition (enlarged, front fangs that can be rotated back to lie flat against roof of mouth)

Species Identification: white tail, prenasals curved under postnasals

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Pigmy Rattlesnake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Viperidae

Subfamily: Crotalinae

Genus and Species: Sistrurus miliarius

Family Characterisitics: subfamily has loreal pits between nose and eyes, subfamily has heat-sensitive pit below the nostril that can be used to located endothermic prey, wedge-shaped heads that bulge at the side with venom glands, heavy bodied snakes, solenoglyphous dentition (enlarged, front fangs that can be rotated back to lie flat against roof of mouth)

Species Identification: upper preocular not in contact with post nasal, small rattle

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Massasauga

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Viperidae

Subfamily: Crotalinae

Genus and Species: Sistrurus catenatus

Family Characterisitics: subfamily has loreal pits between nose and eyes, subfamily has heat-sensitive pit below the nostril that can be used to located endothermic prey, wedge-shaped heads that bulge at the side with venom glands, heavy bodied snakes, solenoglyphous dentition (enlarged, front fangs that can be rotated back to lie flat against roof of mouth)

Species Identification: Dark splotches under chin, circular/subrectangular blotches down back

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Texas Coral Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Elapidae

Subfamily: Elapinae

Genus and Species: Micrurus tener

Family Characterisitics: all venomous, all have proteroglyphous dentition (fixed front fangs)

Species Identification: red bands with widely scattered black spots, band on neck is black, body and tail are not laterally compressed

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Spectacled Cobra

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Elapidae

Subfamily: Elapinae

Genus and Species: Naja naja

Family Characterisitics: all venomous, all have proteroglyphous dentition (fixed front fangs)

Species Identification: smooth scales, hood (scales look compressed mid-dorsally down neck)

Way to Remember:

Common Name: Yellow-bellied Sea Snake

Order: Squamata

Clade: Serpentes

Family: Elapidae

Subfamily: Hydrophiinae

Genus and Species: Hydrophis platurus

Family Characterisitics: all venomous, all have proteroglyphous dentition (fixed front fangs)

Species Identification: laterally compressed tail, black stripe down back

Way to Remember: