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DOI10.47051/BBBU5830 Published March 12, 2024. Open access.

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Rusty Whipsnake (Chironius scurrula)

Reptiles of Ecuador | Serpentes | Colubridae | Chironius scurrula

English common names: Rusty Whipsnake, Wagler’s Sipo.

Spanish common names: Serpiente látigo roja, serpiente látigo de Wagler, serpiente morete.

Recognition: ♂♂ 224.3 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=151.1 cm. ♀♀ 201.4 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=139.1 cm..¹ Chironius scurrula can be identified by having 10 rows of dorsal scales at mid-body, an entire anal plate, smooth scales, and a unique coloration.^1–3 This species exhibits an ontogenetic shift in color pattern. Juveniles present a uniform green coloration, with rusty orange blotches in medium-sized individuals.^4–7 Adults range from dark reddish brown to bright orange-red (Fig. 1), with some large individuals exhibiting a nearly uniform black dorsal coloration and a rusty venter.^1–3 The juveniles can be differentiated from other green snakes, such as C. exoletus, Chlorosoma viridissimum, and Erythrolamprus typhlus by the low number of dorsal scales rows.^1–3

Figure 1: Individuals of Chironius scurrula from Ecuador: Río Nangaritza, Zamora Chinchipe province (); Río Curaray, Pastaza province (); Napo Wildlife Center, Sucumbíos province ().

Natural history: Chironius scurrula is a fairly common diurnal and semi-arboreal snake that inhabits primary forests, secondary forests, forest edges, and disturbed areas such as clearings, pastures, and roadsides.^1–5 This species seems to occur in higher densities along large rivers and lagoons, where individuals are often seen at the water’s edge or swimming across the surface.^5,8 During the day, Rusty Whipsnakes can be seen actively moving on the forest floor or resting or foraging on shrubs and trees up to 6 m above the ground.^1–3,9 At night, they sleep coiled on understory vegetation.^1,2,3,9 Their diet is composed primarily of frogs and rarely of lizards.^1–10 It has been observed that gravid females of C. scurrula contain between 6 and 11 oviductal eggs, and that hatching may occur in the local rainy season.^1,3,9 The Rusty Whipsnake, when disturbed, can exhibit an aggressive behavior which consists of raising the first third of the body while striking repeatedly.⁸ However, this is an aglyphous snake, meaning it lacks venom-inoculating teeth.¹ It is hypothesized that due to their similarity, juveniles of C. scurrula mimic Chlorosoma viridissima and Bothrops bilineatus,⁵ snakes that cause envenomations.^3,9 There are recorded instances of predation on members of this species, including by hawks¹¹ and antshrikes.¹²

Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..¹³ Chironius scurrula is listed in this category primarily because the species is widely distributed, occurs in protected areas, and is able to tolerate some degree of habitat disturbance so long as forest remain.¹³ Although little is known about threats to this species, deforestation and the decline in the number of anuran prey due to pollution and emerging diseases could have a negative localized impact on some populations.¹⁴ Chironius scurrula is particularly affected by vehicular traffic, being frequently found dead-on-road throughout its range.⁸

Distribution: Chironius scurrula is widespread throughout the Amazon rainforest Brazil, Peru, Ecuador (Fig. 2), Colombia, Suriname, Guyana, French Guyana and Venezuela.

Figure 2: Distribution of Chironius scurrula 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.¹⁵ 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. The specific epithet scurrula is a Latin word meaning “buffoon” and refers to the eye-catching pattern of adults.¹

See it in the wild: Rusty Whipsnakes are particularly common along the Río Cuyabeno, where individuals are recorded at a rate of about once every few days especially along the river margins during sunny days.

Authors: Laura Gómez-Mesa^aAffiliation: Escuela de Ciencias Aplicadas e Ingeniería, Universidad EAFIT, Medellín, Colombia. and Esteban Garzón-Franco^bAffiliation: Colecciones Biológicas de la Universidad CES (CBUCES), Facultad de Ciencias y Biotecnología, Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia.

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

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

How to cite? Gómez-Mesa L, Garzón-Franco E (2024) Rusty Whipsnake (Chironius scurrula). 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/BBBU5830

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 (1978) The biology of an equatorial herpetofauna in Amazonian Ecuador. Publications of the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas 65: 1–352.
3. Martins M, Oliveira ME (1998) Natural history of snakes in forests of the Manaus region, Central Amazonia, Brazil. Herpetological Natural History 6: 78–150.
4. Dixon JR, Soini P (1986) The reptiles of the upper Amazon Basin, Iquitos region, Peru. Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, 154 pp.
5. Natera-Mumaw M, Esqueda-González LF, Castelaín-Fernández M (2015) Atlas serpientes de Venezuela. Dimacofi Negocios Avanzados S.A., Santiago de Chile, 456 pp.
6. Cole CJ, Townsend CR, Reynolds RP, MacCulloch RD, Lathrop A (2013) Amphibians and reptiles of Guyana, South America: illustrated keys, annotated species accounts, and a biogeographic synopsis. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 125: 317–620.
7. Marques OAV, Sazima I (2003) Ontogenetic color changes may strengthen suggestion about systematic affinities between two species of Chironius (Serpentes, Colubridae). Phyllomedusa 2: 65–67. DOI: 10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v2i1p65-67
8. Field notes, Reptiles of Ecuador book project.
9. dos Santos-Costa MC, Maschio GF, da Costa Prudente AL (2015) Natural history of snakes from Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, eastern Amazonia, Brazil. Herpetology Notes 8: 69–98.
10. 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.
11. Photo by Jessica dos Anjos.
12. Photo by Frank Pichardo.
13. Hammerson GA, Nogueira C, Catenazzi A, Hoogmoed M, Schargel W, Rivas G (2014) Chironius scurrulus. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T44580168A44580177.en
14. Barquero-González JP, Stice TL, Gómez G, Monge-Nájera J (2020) Are tropical reptiles really declining? A six-year survey of snakes in a tropical coastal rainforest: role of prey and environment. Revista de Biología Tropical 68: 336–343. DOI: 10.15517/rbt.v68i1.38555
15. Merrem B (1790) Beitrage zur Naturgeschichte. Duisburg um Lemgo, Berlin, 141 pp.

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

Country	Province	Locality	Source
Colombia	Caquetá	Florencia	Cárdenas Hincapié & Lozano Bernal 2023
Colombia	Caquetá	Las Verdes	Gutiérrez-Lamus et al. 2020
Colombia	Caquetá	Los Ángeles	Gutiérrez-Lamus et al. 2020
Colombia	Caquetá	Río Orteguaza	Cárdenas Hincapié & Lozano Bernal 2023
Colombia	Caquetá	Vereda El Paraiso	Calderón et al. 2023
Colombia	Cauca	Piamonte	iNaturalist; photo examined
Colombia	Putumayo	Bajo Mansoyá	Cahueño & Barbosa 2022
Colombia	Putumayo	Centro Experimental Amazónico	Betancourth-Cundar & Gutiérrez-Zamora 2010
Colombia	Putumayo	Finca Mariposa	Calderón et al. 2023
Colombia	Putumayo	Puerto Asís	Cárdenas Hincapié & Lozano Bernal 2023
Colombia	Putumayo	Sinaí II Baldío	Cahueño & Barbosa 2022
Colombia	Putumayo	Vereda La Paz	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Cusuime	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	El Tiink	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	La Libertad	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Logroño	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Macas	AMNH 35835; VertNet
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Macuma	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Miazal	USNM 237038; VertNet
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Misión Bomboiza	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Río Napinaza	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Sawastian	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Sucúa	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Morona Santiago	Yaupi	Photo by Darwin Núñez
Ecuador	Napo	Cabañas Piatúa	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Napo	Concepcion	USNM 237022; VertNet
Ecuador	Napo	Dureno	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Napo	El Chaco	MHNG 2399.04; collection database
Ecuador	Napo	Gareno Lodge	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Napo	Jatun Sacha Biological Station	Hernández-Sánchez 2013
Ecuador	Napo	Río Cotapino	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Napo	Río Hollín	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Napo	San Juan de Muyuna	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Napo	San Rafael	MHNG 2412.017; collection database
Ecuador	Napo	Tena	USNM 237023; VertNet
Ecuador	Napo	Wild Sumaco Wildlife Sanctuary	Camper et al. 2021
Ecuador	Napo	Zoo el Arca	Photo by Diego Piñán
Ecuador	Orellana	Ávila Viejo	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Bloque 43	Photo by María Jose Quiroz
Ecuador	Orellana	Edén–Yuturi	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	El Coca	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Orellana	Joya de los Sachas, 3 km N of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Orellana	Loreto	USNM 237021; VertNet
Ecuador	Orellana	Palanda bloque 65	MZUTI 3726; collection database
Ecuador	Orellana	Plataforma petrolera Ginta 1	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Reserva Río Bigal	García et al. 2021
Ecuador	Orellana	Río Jivino	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Orellana	Sacha PAD-310	Rodríguez-Guerra & Carvajal-Campos 2024
Ecuador	Orellana	San José de Payamino	Maynard et al. 2016
Ecuador	Orellana	Santa Teresita	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Tiputini Biodiversity Station	Cisneros-Heredia 2003
Ecuador	Orellana	Vía Pompeya Sur–Iro, km 101	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Vía Pompeya Sur–Iro, km 62	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Orellana	Yasuní Scientific Station	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Pastaza	Canelos	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Pastaza	Centro Ecológico Zanja Arajuno	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Pastaza	Chichirota	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Pastaza	Cobaya Cocha	AMNH 49158; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Curaray Medio	This work; Fig. 1
Ecuador	Pastaza	Guache	AMNH 49093; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Kallana	MZUTI 5041; collection database
Ecuador	Pastaza	Mera	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Pastaza	Montalvo	Ortega-Andrade 2010
Ecuador	Pastaza	Pucayacu	USNM 237035; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Puyo	USNM 237024; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Rancho Verde	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Conambo, near mouth of Río Romarizo	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Huizayacu	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Pastaza	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Pindo	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Pastaza	Río Villano	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Pastaza	Santa Rosa (along Río Conambo =Tigre)	AMNH 49164; VertNet
Ecuador	Pastaza	Sarayacu	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Pastaza	Shell	MHNG 2399.041; collection database
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Cooperativa Dos Ríos	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Entrada a La Selva Lodge	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Guacamayo Ecolodge	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Jamu Lodge	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Lago Agrio	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Laguna Grande	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Limoncocha Biological Reserve	LACM 73365; VertNet
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Napo Wildlife Center	This work; Fig. 1
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Nicky Amazon Lodge	Photo by Tomas Carlberg
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Pañacocha	MHNG 2399.074; collection database
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Pañacocha, línea de flujo	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Payaguaje	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Puerto El Carmen	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	San Pablo de Kantesiya	MHNG 2399.038; collection database
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Sani Lodge	Reptiles of Ecuador book database
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Santa Cecilia	Dixon et al. 1993
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Tucan Lodge	Photo by Harry Turner
Ecuador	Sucumbíos	Via Lumbaqui–La Bonita	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Alto Nangaritza	Nogueira et al. 2019
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	El Pincho	Photo by Darwin Núñez
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Las Orquídeas	Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Pachicutza	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Paquisha, 4 km N of	iNaturalist; photo examined
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Reserva Forest El Zarza	Rodríguez-Guerra & Carvajal-Campos 2024
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Río Nangaritza	This work; Fig. 1
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Subcuenca del Río Tundayme	Betancourt et al. 2018
Ecuador	Zamora Chinchipe	Zurmi	Photo by Darwin Núñez
Perú	Amazonas	Vicinity of Huampami	MVZ 176531; VertNet
Perú	Amazonas	Vicinity of La Poza	MVZ 175317; VertNet
Perú	Amazonas	Vicinity of Shiringa	USNM 566717; VertNet
Perú	Loreto	Balta	LSUMZ 26795; VertNet
Perú	Loreto	Campo Andoas	Valqui Schult 2015
Perú	Loreto	Cashiboya	Dixon et al. 1993
Perú	Loreto	Centro Unión	Dixon et al. 1993
Perú	Loreto	Cerro de Kampankis	Catenazzi & Venegas 2016
Perú	Loreto	Contamana	Dixon et al. 1993
Perú	Loreto	Iquitos	Dixon et al. 1993
Perú	Loreto	Madre Selva Biological Station	iNaturalist; photo examined
Perú	Loreto	Mishana	Dixon et al. 1993
Perú	Loreto	Moropon	Dixon et al. 1993
Perú	Loreto	Pampa Hermosa	Dixon et al. 1993
Perú	Loreto	Reserva Nacional Pacaya Samiria	FMNH 45579; VertNet
Perú	Loreto	Rio Cushabatay	Dixon et al. 1993
Perú	Loreto	Río Huallaga	Dixon et al. 1993
Perú	Loreto	Río Nanay	Dixon et al. 1993
Perú	Loreto	Río Putumayo	Dixon et al. 1993
Perú	Loreto	Río Sepalina	Nogueira et al. 2019
Perú	Loreto	San Jacinto	KU 222192; VertNet
Perú	San Martín	Tarapoto, 5 km NE of	iNaturalist; photo examined

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