Spilotes sulphureus

Spilotes sulphureus, commonly known as the yellow-bellied hissing snake or Amazon puffing snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Colubridae. It is widely distributed throughout South America, as well as the Caribbean island of Trinidad.^[3][4]

Spilotes sulphureus
Spilotes sulphureus in defensive posture at Murici Ecological Station, Brazil
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Spilotes
Species:	S. sulphureus
Binomial name
Spilotes sulphureus (Wagler, 1824)
Synonyms[2]
Natrix sulphurea Wagler, 1824 Coluber poecilostoma Wied-Neuwied, 1824 Spilotes poecilostoma A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854 Phrynonax sulphureus Boulenger, 1894 Paraphrynonax versicolor Lutz & Mello, 1920 Pseustes sulphureus Wagler, 1824

Taxonomy

Originally placed in the genus Pseustes, it is now considered in the genus Spilotes.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.^[2]

• S. s. sulphureus (Wagler, 1824)
• S. s. dieperinkii (Schlegel, 1837)

Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was original described in a genus other than Spilotes.

Description

S. sulphureus is a large snake, which can grow up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) in total length (including tail).^[3] Its venom is bimodal and can directly affect both mammal and reptile prey.^[5]

Diet

Adults of S. sulphureus feed on small mammals, birds and other snakes (both venomous and non-venomous), while juveniles feed on lizards, mice and rats.^[3]