A Central American Blood Snake Sthenorrhina freminville is seen in Nakum Archaeological site, in Peten, Guatemala. Stenorrhina is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. Two species are recognized as being valid. Stenorrhina degenhardtii – southeastern Mexico, Central America, northwestern South America and Stenorrhina freminvillei – southern Mexico, Central America. The specific name, degenhardtii, is in honor of a German named Degenhardt who collected amphibians and reptiles in northern South America in the 1840s. The specific name, freminvillei, is in honor of French naval officer and naturalist Christophe-Paulin de La Poix de Fréminville. Also known as Central American Blood Snake or Scorpion Hunter Snake. The snake is about fifteen inches long with an unusually blunt head, a short, thick tail, and a very pretty color, a kind of rosy-cream. The snake mainly eats insects, spiders and scorpions. To deal with the dangerous stingers of the latter, the snake has evolved a simple but effective behavior: The moment it captures a scorpion it contracts its body in such as way that its scales overlap, effectively increasing its armament. At the same time, the snake coils its body around the victim so the scorpion can`t position its stinger for a hit.

圖片編號： 163675813
拍攝者： Cduartefoto