NaturePlus: Costa Rican snake with small head and black bands

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Up to Discussions in Foreign finds

387 Views 4 Replies Last post: Feb 15, 2018 9:24 PM by Garret

Adam

Currently Being Moderated

Feb 14, 2018 6:03 PM

Costa Rican snake with small head and black bands

Hello,

I don’t suppose that anyone has the time to identify this snake for me? It was found near a river at about 1400 metres in Costa Rica.

Adam

Currently Being Moderated

Feb 15, 2018 1:03 PM (in response to Adam)
Re: Costa Rican snake with small head and black bands

Here's another view which shows the underside. (It was taken before the one above, so the snake was unharmed....and so were we!)

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Garret

Currently Being Moderated

Feb 15, 2018 2:04 PM (in response to Adam)
Re: Costa Rican snake with small head and black bands

Hello Adam and welcome to NaturePlus. This may be one of the Coffee Snakes, possibly the spotted (or banded) Ninia maculata
https://www.herpmapper.org/voucher/112059/full.jpg

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninia

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- Adam
  
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  Feb 15, 2018 3:32 PM (in response to Garret)
  Re: Costa Rican snake with small head and black bands
  
  Thank you Garret.
  I've had a good trawl through Google to find out more about it. It is not at risk at all, quite common. Harmless, though I'm not gonna put my finger near it. It is nocturnal, so I guess odd to see in the day. Eats worms and slugs. It's been fun.
  Adam
  
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  - Garret
    
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    Feb 15, 2018 9:24 PM (in response to Adam)
    Re: Costa Rican snake with small head and black bands
    
    Happy to help. Hopefully you will receive a more definite ID.
    According to the following article in Herpetological Review, this species is diurnal.
    http://www.academia.edu/1505782/NINIA_MACULATA_Banded_Coffee_Snake_._REPRODUCTION
    
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Feb 14, 2018 6:03 PM

Costa Rican snake with small head and black bands

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