Ninia sebae | |
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Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Colubridae |
Genus: | Ninia |
Species: | N. sebae
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Binomial name | |
Ninia sebae | |
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Synonyms [2] | |
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Ninia sebae, commonly known as the redback coffee snake [2] or the red coffee snake, [3] is a species of small terrestrial snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to southeastern Mexico and Central America south to Costa Rica. [1] Although it resembles some venomous coral snakes in color and size, it is not venomous and seldom bites humans. [4] [5]
The specific name, sebae, is in honor of Dutch naturalist Albertus Seba. [6]
Four subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. [2]
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Ninia.
The preferred natural habitats of N. sebae are forest and savanna, at altitudes from sea level to 2,200 m (7,200 ft). [1]
Coffee snakes (species in the genus Ninia) are thought to rely on concealment, flight and intimidation to avoid predation. [3] These snakes were observed either flattening their entire bodies when alarmed, [7] or remaining motionless in whatever position they were discovered. [8] In a more recent study these snakes, when touched, displayed a flattened head and neck, and raised their anterior third or half. [3]
N. sebae preys upon earthworms, [1] [2] slugs, small land snails, and caecilians. [1]
Ninia sebae | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Colubridae |
Genus: | Ninia |
Species: | N. sebae
|
Binomial name | |
Ninia sebae | |
![]() | |
Synonyms [2] | |
|
Ninia sebae, commonly known as the redback coffee snake [2] or the red coffee snake, [3] is a species of small terrestrial snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to southeastern Mexico and Central America south to Costa Rica. [1] Although it resembles some venomous coral snakes in color and size, it is not venomous and seldom bites humans. [4] [5]
The specific name, sebae, is in honor of Dutch naturalist Albertus Seba. [6]
Four subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. [2]
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Ninia.
The preferred natural habitats of N. sebae are forest and savanna, at altitudes from sea level to 2,200 m (7,200 ft). [1]
Coffee snakes (species in the genus Ninia) are thought to rely on concealment, flight and intimidation to avoid predation. [3] These snakes were observed either flattening their entire bodies when alarmed, [7] or remaining motionless in whatever position they were discovered. [8] In a more recent study these snakes, when touched, displayed a flattened head and neck, and raised their anterior third or half. [3]
N. sebae preys upon earthworms, [1] [2] slugs, small land snails, and caecilians. [1]