Mussurana
Encyclopedia
The mussurana or musurana (Portuguese muçurana) are six species of oviparous colubrid snakes belonging to the genus Clelia. They are distributed from Guatemala
to Brazil
. They specialize in ophiophagy
, i.e., they attack and eat other snake
s. They have other popular names in various countries, such as zopilota in Central America and cribo on some Caribbean
islands (though they are not related to Drymarchon
). The species of mussurana are Clelia clelia (Daudin) (also called Pseudoboa clelia Serié 1921, Pseudoboa occipitolutea Serié 1936, Boiruna maculata Leynaud & Bucher 1999,
Clelia occipitolutea Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970, Oxyrhopus cloelia Boulenger 1886, Brachyruton cloelia Duméril Bibron & Duméril 1854,
Clelia daudinii Fitzinger 1826, Coluber clelia Daudin 1803 and distributed mostly in South America
) and Clelia scytalis (in Central America
).
http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2006/show_species_details.php?record_id=1280816
The mussurana has a length of 1.5 to 1.6 m, but it can grow up to 2.4 m. When young, its dorsal color is light pink, which becomes lead-blue when it is adult. The ventral color is whitish yellow. It has 10 to 15 strong teeth at the back of the mouth (opisthoglyphous teeth) which it uses to grasp the head of the attacked snake and push it into its gullet. Then it coils its body around the victim, killing it by constriction (this is the reason this species is called a pseudoboa). Ingestion of the whole body follows. The long body of the ingested snake is compressed as a wave in order to fit into the mussurana's gastrointestinal system.
Although mussurana's fangs contain venom, these snakes pose no danger to humans. Even when handled they usually do not bite. Very few envenomations have been reported and they were not fatal. http://forum.kingsnake.com/indigo/messages/5499.html
The mussurana is immune to the venom of the snakes it feeds upon, particularly the smaller Central and South American pit viper
s of the genus Bothrops
. It is not immune to the venom of the coral snake
, though. In the absence of other snakes, the mussurana can feed also on small mammals. It has been reported that at least some captive specimens will accept only live snakes as prey. Its preferred habitat
is dense ground-level vegetation and its habit is diurnal.
In some regions, farmers keep mussuranas as pets
in order to keep their living environment clear of pit vipers, which claim annually a large number of deaths of domestic animals, like cattle. In the 1930s a Brazilian plan to breed and release large numbers of mussuranas for the control of pit vipers was tried but didn't work. The Butantan Institute
in São Paulo, which specializes in the production of antivenin
s, erected a statue of Clelia clelia as its symbol and a tribute to its usefulness in combating venomous snake bites. The mussurana's immunity to bothropic venom was studied by the Brazilian scientist Vital Brazil
in the 1920s.
Mussuranas are increasingly rare due to the disappearance of their prey and have disappeared in many habitats.
1936. The Reptiles of North America. Doubleday and Co., New York, NY, 476 pp., 135 plates. Notes Trimorphodon, Leptodeira capable poisonous bites; mentions boomslang, possibly mussurana, dangerous.
Roosevelt, Theodore
1914. Through the Brazilian Wilderness. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 410 pp. Notes: Throughout the book, the snake is commonly referred to as the "mussurama".
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. They specialize in ophiophagy
Ophiophagy
Ophiophagy is a specialized form of feeding or alimentary behavior of animals which hunt and eat snakes. There are ophiophagous mammals , birds , lizards , and even other snakes, such as the Central and South American mussuranas and...
, i.e., they attack and eat other snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
s. They have other popular names in various countries, such as zopilota in Central America and cribo on some Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
islands (though they are not related to Drymarchon
Drymarchon
Indigo snakes are a genus of large non-venomous colubrid snakes found in Southeastern United States, Central America, and South America. Three to four species are currently recognized.-Description:...
). The species of mussurana are Clelia clelia (Daudin) (also called Pseudoboa clelia Serié 1921, Pseudoboa occipitolutea Serié 1936, Boiruna maculata Leynaud & Bucher 1999,
Clelia occipitolutea Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970, Oxyrhopus cloelia Boulenger 1886, Brachyruton cloelia Duméril Bibron & Duméril 1854,
Clelia daudinii Fitzinger 1826, Coluber clelia Daudin 1803 and distributed mostly in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
) and Clelia scytalis (in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
).
http://www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2006/show_species_details.php?record_id=1280816
The mussurana has a length of 1.5 to 1.6 m, but it can grow up to 2.4 m. When young, its dorsal color is light pink, which becomes lead-blue when it is adult. The ventral color is whitish yellow. It has 10 to 15 strong teeth at the back of the mouth (opisthoglyphous teeth) which it uses to grasp the head of the attacked snake and push it into its gullet. Then it coils its body around the victim, killing it by constriction (this is the reason this species is called a pseudoboa). Ingestion of the whole body follows. The long body of the ingested snake is compressed as a wave in order to fit into the mussurana's gastrointestinal system.
Although mussurana's fangs contain venom, these snakes pose no danger to humans. Even when handled they usually do not bite. Very few envenomations have been reported and they were not fatal. http://forum.kingsnake.com/indigo/messages/5499.html
The mussurana is immune to the venom of the snakes it feeds upon, particularly the smaller Central and South American pit viper
Crotalinae
The Crotalinae, commonly known as "pit vipers" or crotaline snakes, are a subfamily of venomous vipers found in Asia and the Americas. They are distinguished by the presence of a heat-sensing pit organ located between the eye and the nostril on either side of the head...
s of the genus Bothrops
Bothrops
Bothrops is a genus of venomous pitvipers found in Central and South America. The generic name is derived from the Greek words bothros and ops that mean "pit" and "eye" or "face"; an allusion to the heat-sensitive loreal pit organs. Members of this genus are responsible for more human deaths in the...
. It is not immune to the venom of the coral snake
Coral snake
The coral snakes are a large group of elapid snakes that can be subdivided into two distinct groups, Old World coral snakes and New World coral snakes...
, though. In the absence of other snakes, the mussurana can feed also on small mammals. It has been reported that at least some captive specimens will accept only live snakes as prey. Its preferred habitat
Habitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
is dense ground-level vegetation and its habit is diurnal.
In some regions, farmers keep mussuranas as pets
PETS
PETS may be an acronym for:* Pet Travel Scheme, which allows animals to travel internationally without quarantine* Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act...
in order to keep their living environment clear of pit vipers, which claim annually a large number of deaths of domestic animals, like cattle. In the 1930s a Brazilian plan to breed and release large numbers of mussuranas for the control of pit vipers was tried but didn't work. The Butantan Institute
Instituto Butantan
Instituto Butantan is a Brazilian biomedical research center affiliated to the São Paulo State Secretary of Health. It is located near the campus of the University of São Paulo, in the city of the same name.-History:...
in São Paulo, which specializes in the production of antivenin
Antivenin
Antivenom is a biological product used in the treatment of venomous bites or stings. Antivenom is created by milking venom from the desired snake, spider or insect. The venom is then diluted and injected into a horse, sheep or goat...
s, erected a statue of Clelia clelia as its symbol and a tribute to its usefulness in combating venomous snake bites. The mussurana's immunity to bothropic venom was studied by the Brazilian scientist Vital Brazil
Vital Brazil
Vital Brazil Mineiro da Campanha, known as Vital Brazil was a Brazilian physician, biomedical scientist and immunologist, internationally renowned for the discovery of the polyvalent anti-ophidic serum used to treat bites of venomous snakes of the Crotalus, Bothrops and Elaps genera. He went on...
in the 1920s.
Mussuranas are increasingly rare due to the disappearance of their prey and have disappeared in many habitats.
Literature
Ditmars, R.L.Raymond Ditmars
Raymond Lee Ditmars was an American herpetologist.Ditmars was very interested in animals, , obtaining his first snakes at twelve years of age...
1936. The Reptiles of North America. Doubleday and Co., New York, NY, 476 pp., 135 plates. Notes Trimorphodon, Leptodeira capable poisonous bites; mentions boomslang, possibly mussurana, dangerous.
Roosevelt, Theodore
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
1914. Through the Brazilian Wilderness. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 410 pp. Notes: Throughout the book, the snake is commonly referred to as the "mussurama".
External links
- Mussurana Care Sheet
- Photograph from the wild: mussurana 1, common lancehead 0.
- http://forum.kingsnake.com/indigo/messages/5499.html discussion forum (about venom of musurana)