Cemophora coccinea lineri

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Texas Scarlet Snake
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Colubrinae
Genus: Cemophora
Species: C. coccinea
Subspecies: C. c. lineri
Trinomial name
Cemophora coccinea lineri
Williams, Brown, Wilson, 1966

The Texas Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea lineri) is a subspecies of non-venomous colubrid snake native to the United States in southern Texas. Its range does not overlap with other subspecies of Scarlet Snake. The epithet lineri is in honor of American zoologist Ernest A. Liner, who collected the first specimen in 1963.[1]

[edit] Description

The Texas Scarlet Snake is the largest of the scarlet snake subspecies, and is capable of growing to 26 inches. It has an overall grey or white color, with distinct red blotches that have black borders. Unlike other subspecies, the black borders do not join on the sides. Their belly is a solid white or grey.

[edit] Behavior

Like all scarlet snakes, the Texas Scarlet Snake is a secretive burrower, spending most of its time under ground. It prefers sandy thicket habitats along the Gulf of Mexico coastline. Its preferred diet is the eggs of other reptiles, but it will also eat small rodents and lizards.

[edit] References