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DOI10.47051/RZHK7496 Published May 9, 2021. Updated March 7, 2024. Open access.

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Brown Whipsnake (Chironius fuscus)

Reptiles of Ecuador | Serpentes | Colubridae | Chironius fuscus

English common names: Brown Whipsnake, Brown Sipo, Olive Whipsnake, Red-fronted Tree Snake.

Spanish common name: Serpiente látigo marrón, serpiente látigo oliva (Ecuador); cazadora, juetiadora, lomo de machete (Colombia); serpiente de olivo, sipo marrón (Peru); cuaima machete, cuaima gallo, machete, verdegallo (Venezuela).

Recognition: ♂♂ 159.7 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=109.5 cm. ♀♀ 151.4 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail..^1,2 Chironius fuscus can be identified by having 10 rows of dorsal scales at mid-body, keels on either side of the vertebral line, and a olivaceous or brownish dorsal coloration (Fig. 1).^1–4 The keels may be darkened, giving the appearance of two dark stripes.¹ The venter is cream or yellowish, becoming darker towards the tail.^1,4 Juveniles are olive to brown with light transverse bands, which tend to disappear when the animal reaches a body length of 35–40 cm.^1,3 This species differs from C. exoletus and C. multiventris by having 10 rows of dorsal scales at mid-body.¹ From the adults of C. scurrula, it differs by having a brown, instead of red or black dorsum.^1,5 From C. leucometapus, it differs by having a brown, instead of green, dorsum and by having a postocular stripe.⁶

Figure 1: Individuals of Chironius fuscus from Ecuador: Yasuní Scientific Station, Orellana province (); Huella Verde Lodge, Pastaza province (); Nangaritza, Zamora Chinchipe province (). j=juvenile.

Natural history: Chironius fuscus is a common diurnal and semi-arboreal snake that inhabits old-growth to heavily disturbed evergreen forests, which can be terra-firme or seasonally flooded.^3,5,7 The species also occurs in human-modified environments such as grasslands and plantations.^8,9 Brown Whipsnakes are almost exclusively active during warm days, but there are records of individuals foraging at night near ponds.¹⁰ Most of their active time is spent foraging at ground level or moving on vegetation 0.4–2 m above the ground.^2,10,11 They can also be seen crossing roads and trails, resting/basking on trees or at ground level, and swimming across bodies of water, including major Amazonian rivers.^5,9,12 Around 6:00–7:00 pm, these snakes begin to look for a perch to sleep,¹³ such as branches, leaves, and ferns near bodies of water at 0.2–5 m above the ground.^3,9,11 An individual can use the same roosting place repeatedly.¹⁰ If disturbed during their sleep, Brown Whipsnakes will usually drop to the ground, quickly ascending to the nearest vegetation.³

Brown Whipsnakes are active hunters having an aglyphous dentition, meaning their teeth lack specialized grooves to deliver venom.^1,2 Therefore, they ingest prey quickly to avoid them from escaping.^1,2 Their diet consists mainly of anurans (including Boana boans,¹⁴ Leptodactylus petersii, L. mystaceus, Osteocephalus taurinus,⁹ and Trachycephalus macrotis),¹⁵ but also includes salamanders,¹⁵ lizards (anoles,¹⁶ whiptails,¹⁷ and geckos such as Gonatodes humeralis),¹⁵ birds, and mice.¹⁶ There are records of Laughing Falcons (Herpetotheres cachinnans) preying upon individuals of this species.¹² The main defense mechanism of Brown Whipsnakes is to flee quickly, although they can also inflate the neck and open the mouth aggressively to appear bigger and intimidating; if this does not work, they can also strike.^5,16 Males attain sexual maturity when they reach ~53 cm in total length; females at ~57.6 cm.¹⁸ The breeding season in this species seems to be continuous, since females having oviductal eggs (between 3 and 8) have been recorded throughout the year.^17,18

Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..^19–21 Chironius fuscus is included in this category given the species’ wide distribution, occurrence in protected areas (including all major national parks in Amazonian Ecuador), and presumed stable populations.¹⁹ However, the abundance of this species is thought to be diminishing in areas affected by deforestation¹⁹ and vehicular traffic.^22,23

Distribution: Chironius fuscus is widely distributed throughout the Amazon in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador (Fig. 2), French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela, as well as in the Atlantic Forest biome of Brazil. The species has an estimated total range size of 2,139,501 km².²⁴

Figure 2: Distribution of Chironius fuscus in Ecuador. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.

Etymology: The name Chironius was coined by Leopold Fitzinger in 1826, but likely originated in 1790 with Blasius Merrem, who used the common name “Chiron’s Natter” for Linnaeus’ Coluber carinatus.²⁵ In Greek mythology, Chiron was a centaur reputed for his healing abilities. Likewise, in ancient Greek civilization, sick people hoping for a cure flocked to temples where sacred snakes were carefully tended and presented to the sufferers. Therefore, Chironius likely refers to the healing power of snakes, a belief that lies at the foundation of medicine and crosses many cultures worldwide.^26,27 The specific epithet fuscus is a Latin word meaning “dark” or “swarthy.”²⁸ It refers to the dark coloration of the body and the postocular dark stripe present in some individuals.

See it in the wild: Brown Whipsnakes are frequently encountered in forested areas throughout their area of distribution in Ecuador. The localities having the greatest number of observations are Yasuní Scientific Station, Maycu Reserve, and Tamandúa Reserve. The snakes are most easily spotted when they are sleeping on vegetation along water bodies at night, or moving on pastures during sunny days.

Authors: Juan Acosta-Ortiz,^aAffiliation: Semillero de Investigación BioHerp, Universidad de los Llanos, Villavicencio, Colombia. Juan Bobadilla-Molina,^aAffiliation: Semillero de Investigación BioHerp, Universidad de los Llanos, Villavicencio, Colombia. and Andrés F. Aponte-Gutiérrez^bAffiliation: Grupo de Biodiversidad y Recursos Genéticos, Instituto de Genética, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.^,cAffiliation: Fundación Biodiversa Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.

Editor: Alejandro Arteaga^dAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador.

Photographer: Jose Vieira^dAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.^eAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador.

How to cite? Acosta-Ortiz J, Bobadilla-Molina J, Aponte-Gutiérrez A (2024) Brown Whipsnake (Chironius fuscus). In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J (Eds) Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Available from: www.reptilesofecuador.com. DOI: 10.47051/RZHK7496

Literature cited:

1. Dixon JR, Wiest Jr JA, Cei JM (1993) Revision of the Neotropical snake genus Chironius Fitzinger (Serpentes, Colubridae). Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino, Torino, 280 pp.
2. Duellman WE (2005) Cusco amazónico: the lives of amphibians and reptiles in an Amazonian rainforest. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 433 pp.
3. Duellman WE (1978) The biology of an equatorial herpetofauna in Amazonian Ecuador. Publications of the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas 65: 1–352.
4. de Fraga R, Lima AP, da Costa Prudente AL, Magnusson WE (2013) Guia de cobras da região de Manaus - Amazônia Central. Editopa Inpa, Manaus, 303 pp.
5. Martins M, Oliveira ME (1998) Natural history of snakes in forests of the Manaus region, Central Amazonia, Brazil. Herpetological Natural History 6: 78–150.
6. Torres-Carvajal O, Koch C, Valencia JH, Venegas PJ, Echevarría LY (2019) Morphology and distribution of the South American snake Chironius leucometapus (Serpentes: Colubridae). Phyllomedusa 18: 241–254. DOI: 10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v18i2p241-254
7. Cunha OR, Nascimento FP (1993) Ofídios da Amazônia. As cobras da região leste do Pará. Papéis Avulsos Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi 40: 9–87.
8. Cortes-Ávila L, Toledo JJ (2013) Estudio de la diversidad de serpientes en áreas de bosque perturbado y pastizal en San Vicente del Caguán (Caquetá), Colombia. Actualidades Biológicas 35: 185–197.
9. Field notes, Reptiles of Ecuador book project.
10. Hartmann PA (2005) História natural e ecologia de duas taxocenoses de serpentes na Mata Atlântica. PhD thesis, Rio Claro, Universidade Estadual Paulista, 117 pp.
11. Field notes of Juan Sebastián Bobadilla-Molina.
12. Field notes of Andrés Felipe Aponte-Gutiérrez.
13. Field notes of Juan Manuel Acosta-Ortiz.
14. Arrivillaga C, Levac A (2019) A failed predation attempt on a Rusty Treefrog, Hypsiboas boans (Anura: Hylidae), by an Olive Whipsnake, Chironius fuscus (Squamata: Colubridae), in southeastern Perú. IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians 26: 111–112.
15. Roberto IJ, Ramos Souza A (2020) Review of prey items recorded for snakes of the genus Chironius (Squamata, Colubridae), including the first record of Osteocephalus as prey. Herpetology Notes 13: 1–5.
16. Beebe W (1946) Field notes on the snakes of Kartabo, British Guiana, and Caripito, Venezuela. Zoologica 31: 11–52.
17. Dixon JR, Soini P (1986) The reptiles of the upper Amazon Basin, Iquitos region, Peru. Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, 154 pp.
18. Nascimento LP, Mendes Siqueira D, dos Santos-Costa MC (2013) Diet, reproduction, and sexual dimorphism in the Vine Snake, Chironius fuscus (Serpentes: Colubridae), from Brazilian Amazonia. South American Journal of Herpetology 8: 168–174. DOI: 10.2994/SAJH-D-13-00017.1
19. Caicedo J, Gutiérrez-Cárdenas P, Rivas G, Nogueira C, Gonzales L, Cisneros-Heredia DF, Catenazzi A, Gagliardi G, Hoogmoed M, Schargel W (2019) Chironius fuscus. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T44580103A44580112.en
20. Carrillo E, Aldás A, Altamirano M, Ayala F, Cisneros-Heredia DF, Endara A, Márquez C, Morales M, Nogales F, Salvador P, Torres ML, Valencia J, Villamarín F, Yánez-Muñoz M, Zárate P (2005) Lista roja de los reptiles del Ecuador. Fundación Novum Millenium, Quito, 46 pp.
21. Reyes-Puig C (2015) Un método integrativo para evaluar el estado de conservación de las especies y su aplicación a los reptiles del Ecuador. MSc thesis, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, 73 pp.
22. Hartmann PA, Hartmann MT, Martins M (2011) Snake road mortality in a protected area in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. South American Journal of Herpetology 36: 35–42.
23. Sosa R, Schalk CM (2016) Seasonal activity and species habitat guilds influence road-kill patterns of neotropical snakes. Tropical Conservation Science 9: 1–12. DOI: 10.1177/1940082916679662
24. Nogueira CC, Argôlo AJS, Arzamendia V, Azevedo JA, Barbo FE, Bérnils RS, Bolochio BE, Borges-Martins M, Brasil-Godinho M, Braz H, Buononato MA, Cisneros-Heredia DF, Colli GR, Costa HC, Franco FL, Giraudo A, Gonzalez RC, Guedes T, Hoogmoed MS, Marques OAV, Montingelli GG, Passos P, Prudente ALC, Rivas GA, Sanchez PM, Serrano FC, Silva NJ, Strüssmann C, Vieira-Alencar JPS, Zaher H, Sawaya RJ, Martins M (2019) Atlas of Brazilian snakes: verified point-locality maps to mitigate the Wallacean shortfall in a megadiverse snake fauna. South American Journal of Herpetology 14: 1–274. DOI: 10.2994/SAJH-D-19-00120.1
25. Merrem B (1790) Beitrage zur Naturgeschichte. Duisburg um Lemgo, Berlin, 141 pp.
26. Nayernouri T (2010) Asclepius, caduceus, and simurgh as medical symbols. Archives of Iranian Medicine 13: 61–68.
27. Güner E, Şeker KG, Güner Ş (2019) Why is the medical symbol a snake? Istanbul Medical Journal 20: 172–175. DOI: 10.4274/imj.galenos.2018.65902
28. Brown RW (1956) Composition of scientific words. Smithsonian Books, Washington D.C., 882 pp.

Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Chironius fuscus in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used.

Country	Province	Locality	Source
Colombia	Caquetá	Caserío Los Ángeles	Caicedo Portilla 2023
Colombia	Caquetá	Finca de Erley Navas	Caicedo Portilla 2023
Colombia	Caquetá	Las Dalias Nature and Ecotourism Reserve	Photo by John Himes
Colombia	Caquetá	Quebrada Las Verdes	Caicedo Portilla 2023
Colombia	Putumayo	Finca Mariposa	Calderón et al. 2023
Colombia	Putumayo	Mocoa	Cárdenas Hincapié & Lozano Bernal 2023
Colombia	Putumayo	Reserva Amaru	iNaturalist; photo examined
Colombia	Putumayo	Río Guamués	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Loreto	San José de Payamino	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Comunidad Kiim	Online multimedia
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Comunidad Shuar Kunkuk	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Cusuime	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	El Pescado	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Gualaquiza	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Kushapucus	MZUA.RE.0196; examined
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Macas	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Macuma	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Mirador de la Virgen	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Nuevo Israel	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Quebrada Namakunts	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Rio Cusuime	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Río Napinaza	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	San Juan Bosco	MZUA.RE.0241; examined
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Santa Teresa	USNM 283946; VertNet
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Sucúa	Fugler & Walls 1978
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Tundayme	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Wisui	Chaparro et al. 2011
Ecuador	Napo	Ahuano	MCZ 173828; VertNet
Ecuador	Napo	Carlos Julio Arosemena Tola	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Napo	Cotundo, 12 km NW of	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Napo	Gareno Lodge	Photo by Sandro Aguinda
Ecuador	Napo	Jatun Sacha Biological Station	MCZ 173828; VertNet
Ecuador	Napo	Narupa Reserve	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Napo	Pitalala, meseta	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Napo	Río Misahuallí	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Napo	Río Napo, YasunÍ National Park	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Napo	San Francisco	Fugler & Walls 1978
Ecuador	Napo	San Juan de Muyuna	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Napo	San Juan de Piatua	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Napo	Tena	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Napo	Vía Guamaní–Hollín	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Napo	Wild Sumaco, lower trails	Photo by Dr. Dark
Ecuador	Napo	Yachana Reserve	Whitworth & Beirne 2011
Ecuador	Napo	Zoo el Arca	Photo by Diego Piñán
Ecuador	Orellana	Ávila Viejo	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Coca	Online multimedia
Ecuador	Orellana	Comunidad Chiru Isla	Paulina Romero, pers. comm.
Ecuador	Orellana	Comunidad Sinchichikta	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Cotapino	Fugler & Walls 1978
Ecuador	Orellana	Laguna Jatuncocha	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Orellana	Laguna Zancudo	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Loreto	USNM 287927; VertNet
Ecuador	Orellana	Pozo Chonta	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Pozo Petrolero Nambi	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Río Bigal Biological Reserve	García et al. 2021
Ecuador	Orellana	Río Yasuní	María Jose Quiroz, pers. comm.
Ecuador	Orellana	San José de Payamino	Maynard et al. 2017
Ecuador	Orellana	Tambococha	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Tiputini Biodiversity Station	Cisneros-Heredia 2003
Ecuador	Orellana	Vía Loreto-Río Hollín	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Vía Pompeya Sur–Iro, km 40	Photo by Morley Read
Ecuador	Orellana	Vía Pompeya Sur–Iro, km 90	Photo by Morley Read
Ecuador	Orellana	Wati	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Yasuní Scientific Station	This work; Fig. 1
Ecuador	Pastaza	Arajuno	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Pastaza	Balsaura	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Pastaza	Cabeceras del Río Bobonaza	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Pastaza	Campamento K10	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Pastaza	Campamento Villano B	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Pastaza	Canelos	Fugler & Walls 1978
Ecuador	Pastaza	Centro Ecológico Zanja Arajuno	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Pastaza	Comunidad Pablo López de Oglán Alto	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Pastaza	Conambo	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Pastaza	Diez de Agosto	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Pastaza	Heimatlos Lodge	Photo by Ferhat Gundogdu
Ecuador	Pastaza	Huella Verde Lodge	This work; Fig. 1
Ecuador	Pastaza	Juyuintza	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Pastaza	Lorocachi	Online multimedia
Ecuador	Pastaza	Mera	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Pastaza	Montalvo	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Pastaza	Oglán	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Pastaza	Pavacachi	USNM 237010; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Pucayacu (Río Pucayacu)	USNM 237005; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Puyo	USNM 205035; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Bobonaza	Photo by Andreas Kay
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Bufeo	USNM 237014; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Curaray	USNM 237010; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Lliquino	USNM 237012; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Oglán	USNM 237007; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Talin	USNM 237009; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Sacha Yaku	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Pastaza	San Juan de Piatúa	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Pastaza	Sarayacu	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Pastaza	Tamandúa Reserve	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Aguarico Protective Forest	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Boca del Río Cuyabeno	USNM 237003; VertNet
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Comunidad Siugue	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Dureno	Yánez & Chimbo 2007
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Dureno, 18 km N of	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Embarcadero La Selva Lodge	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Estación PUCE en Cuyabeno	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	La Selva Amazon Ecolodge	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Lago Agrio	KU 300711; VertNet
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Limoncocha	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Napo Wildlife Center	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Pacayacu	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Pañacocha	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Playas del Cuyabeno	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Puerto Libre	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Putumayo	OMNH 36519.0; VertNet
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Río Singüe	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Sacha Lodge	Photo by Charlie Vogt
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Sani Lodge	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Santa Cecilia	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Santa Cecilia, 3 km W of	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Tarapoa	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Zábalo	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Bombuscaro	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Ciudad Perdida	Darwin Núñez, pers. comm.
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Copalinga	Reeves et al. (unpublished)
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Cumbaratza	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Maycu Nature Reserve	This work; Fig. 1
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Río Zamora	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Tepuy Las Orquídeas	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Valle del Quimi	Betancourt et al. 2018
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Yantzaza	Nogueira et al. 2019
Perú	Amazonas	Aguaruna village	MVZ 163254; VertNet
Perú	Amazonas	Cabeceras del Río Cenepa	MVZ 163253; VertNet
Perú	Amazonas	Chiriaco	Dixon et al. 1993
Perú	Amazonas	Comunidad Nativa Copallin	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Perú	Amazonas	El Cenepa	USNM 316584; VertNet
Perú	Amazonas	Río Santiago	USNM 566712; VertNet
Perú	Amazonas	Vicinity of La Poza	MVZ 175312; VertNet
Perú	Loreto	Aguas Negras	Yánez-Muñoz & Venegas 2008

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