American pipe snake
The American pipe snake, also known as the false coral snake, is a unique non-venomous species belonging to the genus Anilius, primarily found in the damp soil of the Amazon Basin in South America. With their distinctive red and black ringed bodies, they are often mistaken for the more dangerous coral snakes, but unlike the coral snake, the American pipe snake poses no threat due to its lack of venom. These burrowing reptiles typically measure around 27.5 inches long and spend much of their time underground in tunnel systems, although they can traverse both land and water.
As carnivores, American pipe snakes primarily feed on lizards, insects, and other snakes, employing constriction to subdue their prey before swallowing it whole. They have adapted an ovoviviparous reproductive method, giving birth to 4 to 18 live young after the eggs develop inside their bodies. Their striking coloration serves as camouflage, deterring potential predators who may mistake them for venomous coral snakes. Additionally, American pipe snakes possess a unique defense mechanism, allowing them to mimic a cobra by flicking their tails to further ward off threats. On average, these snakes can live up to 12 years in their natural habitat.
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Subject Terms
Coral pipe snake
American pipe snakesalso known as false coral snakesare the only species of the genus Anilius. They have red and black ringed bodies and are often mistaken for the more dangerous coral snakes of South America. Although coral snakes, which are venomous, or poisonous, also have red and black ringed skin, their patterns are just a little bit different, and the American pipe snake is not a poisonous snake.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Aniliidae
Genus: Anilius
Species: Scytale
American pipe snakes live in the damp soil of the Amazon Basin in South America. These burrowing snakes spend most of their time underground in their tunnel systems, or burrows, but can also travel between land and water. American pipe snakes grow to be about 27 1/2 inches (70 centimeters) long. They slide through the earth examining their surroundings with their forked tongues. Like other snakes, American pipe snakes pick up chemical signals with their tongues. They put these signals in a special organ in their mouths that figures out what chemicals are present in their environment. By knowing what chemicals are in the environment, American pipe snakes can trail prey, recognize predators, and find mates.
American pipe snakes are carnivorous, which means they eat only meat. They live on a diet of lizards, insects, and other snakes. Because they are not poisonous, the American pipe snake relies on constriction in order to kill its prey. After they have killed their prey, pipe snakes swallow them whole. However, they can also swallow live prey whole if the prey is small enough. They unhook their moveable jaws and push their prey into their bodies with their sharp teeth.
American pipe snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning their young develop within eggs inside their mothers' bodies and are then born live. The term ovoviviparous is usually used for animals which otherwise would have been laying eggs. American pipe snakes usually give birth to 4 to 18 live young.
The main source of protection for American pipe snakes is their coloring. Since they look so much like coral snakes, which are venomousor poisonousmany animals avoid them out of fear. However, this snake also has an unique ability to flick or flip the tip of its tale toward the sky, mimicking the poisonous Cobra snake, to wards off predators.
The average life span of American pipe snakes is about 12 years.
Bibliography
“Anilius.” Animalia.Bio, animalia.bio/anilius. Accessed 9 Apr. 2024.
Ramsaroop, Krista J. “Anilius Scytale (Pipe Snake or False Coral Snake).” The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago , sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/images/Anilius%20scytale%20-%20Pipe%20Snake%20or%20False%20Coral%20Snake.pdf. Accessed 9 Apr. 2024.