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Glossy Racer (Drymoluber dichrous)
Reptiles of Ecuador | Serpentes | Colubridae | Drymoluber dichrous
English common names: Glossy Racer, Northern Woodland Racer.
Spanish common names: Serpiente corredora lustrosa, serpiente corredora brillante.
Recognition: ♂♂ 130 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=95.2 cm. ♀♀ 103.2 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=74.4 cm..1 Drymoluber dichrous can be recognized by having smooth dorsals arranged in 15 rows at mid-body and a unique coloration that changes throughout the snake’s lifespan. Juveniles have a dorsal pattern consisting of broad rich reddish brown bands separated from each other by narrow white or cream bands, with a bright yellow, orange, or red nape band and snout.1–5 Adults are uniformly dark olive brown or black, with a dark postocular stripe contrasting heavily with the pale supralabials (Fig. 1).1–5 The juveniles are unlikely to be confused, but the adults resemble the coloration of Erythrolamprus reginae, from which they differ by lacking black longitudinal stripes on the tail.2,3
Figure 1: Individuals of Drymoluber dichrous: Leticia, Amazonas department, Colombia (); Gareno, Napo province, Ecuador (). j=juvenile.
Natural history: Drymoluber dichrous is a terrestrial to semi-arboreal snake that inhabits lowland terra-firme rainforests and floodplain forests, occurring also in forest-edge situations and along roadsides.1–6 Glossy Racers are active on the forest floor during the daytime.3 At night, they typically roost coiled on understory vegetation 30–250 cm above the ground,3,6 but may occasionally remain hidden in the leaf-litter.4 Glossy Racers are active predators characterized by their speed in catching and devouring prey.4 Their diet consists of lizards (including Ameiva ameiva,7 Arthrosaura reticulata,7 Iphisa brunopereira,4 Potamites ecpleopus,2 Gonatodes humeralis,1 and Anolis fuscoauratus8), lizard eggs,4 snakes (Mastigodryas and Oxybelis),9,10 birds, and amphibians (Pristimantis and Leptodactylus).1–4 The Glossy Racer, when cornered, adopts an S-shape posture, opens the mouth aggressively, and strikes.4 There is a recorded instance of predation on a member of this species by the tarantula Theraphosa blondi.11 The clutch size in D. dichrous consists of 1–6 eggs, with reproduction taking place throughout the year.1,4,9,12
Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..13 Drymoluber dichrous is listed in this category because the species is widely distributed, occurs in many protected areas (at least 10 in Ecuador), and is considered to be facing no major immediate threats of extinction.13 In addition, it is presumed that populations of D. dichrous are stable and largely unfragmented.13 However, this species, a strict forest dweller, is under constant threat due to large-scaled deforestation driven by agricultural and urban expansion.
Distribution: Drymoluber dichrous occurs throughout the Amazonian lowlands and adjacent slopes of the Andes in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador (Fig. 2), French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. It also occurs in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.
Figure 2: Distribution of Drymoluber dichrous in Ecuador. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.
Etymology: The genus name Drymoluber is an amalgamation of the genera Drymobius and Coluber, since it shares characteristics of both groups.14 The specific epithet dichrous is a Greek word meaning “two skins” and probably refers to the stark contrast between the pale ventral and dark dorsal coloration in adults.15
See it in the wild: Drymoluber dichrous is considered an uncommon species in Ecuador, with no more than 1–2 individuals recorded per month at any given locality. Prime areas for this species include Puyo and Yasuní Scientific Station, where these snakes are most easily detected by sampling understory vegetation along forest trails at night.
Authors: Tatiana Molina-Moreno,aAffiliation: Departamento de Biología, Universidad de los Llanos, Villavicencio, Colombia. Andrés F. Aponte-Gutiérrez,bAffiliation: Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias de la Orinoquía, Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Orinoquía, Arauca, Colombia.,cAffiliation: Fundación Biodiversa Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia. Danna Duque-Torres,dAffiliation: Grupo de Ornitología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia. and Alejandro ArteagaeAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.
Photographer: Sebastián Di DoménicofAffiliation: Keeping Nature, Bogotá, Colombia.
How to cite? Molina-Moreno T, Aponte-Gutierrez AF, Duque-Torres D, Arteaga A (2024) Glossy Racer (Drymoluber dichrous). 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/GTEN4843
Literature cited:
- Dixon JR, Soini P (1986) The reptiles of the upper Amazon Basin, Iquitos region, Peru. Milwaukee Public Museum, Milwaukee, 154 pp.
- 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.
- Duellman WE (2005) Cusco amazónico: the lives of amphibians and reptiles in an Amazonian rainforest. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 433 pp.
- Martins M, Oliveira ME (1998) Natural history of snakes in forests of the Manaus region, Central Amazonia, Brazil. Herpetological Natural History 6: 78–150.
- Cunha OR, Nascimento FP (1978) Ofídios da Amazônia. X. As cobras da região leste do Pará. Papéis Avulsos Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi 31: 1–218.
- Field notes, Reptiles of Ecuador book project.
- Avila-Pires TCS (1995) Lizards of Brazilian Amazonia (Reptilia: Squamata). Zoologische Verhandelingen 299: 1–706.
- Veríssimo D, de Freitas MA, Rosa GM (2012) Drymoluber dichrous (Northern Woodland Racer) and Anolis fuscoauratus (Slender Anole): predation. Herpetological Bulletin 120: 36–38.
- 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.
- Borges-Nojosa DM, Lima DC (2001) Dieta de Drymoluber dichrous (Peters, 1863) dos Brejos de altitude do Estado do Ceará, Brasil (Serpentes, Colubridae). Boletin do Museu Nacional Río de Janeiro 468: 1–5.
- Bilce TM, Monteiro LB, Coêlho TA, De Souza DC (2021). Predation of the snake Drymoluber dichrous (Peters, 1863) (Serpentes: Colubridae) by the spider Theraphosa blondi (Latreille, 1804) (Araneae: Theraphosidae) in the Brazilian Amazon. Herpetology Notes 14: 239–241.
- Fitch H (1970) Reproductive cycles in lizards and snakes. Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas, Lawrence, 247 pp.
- Rivas G, Gutiérrez-Cárdenas P, Caicedo J (2019) Drymoluber dichrous. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T44580218A44580227.en
- Uetz P, Freed P, Hošek J (2021) The reptile database. Available from: www.reptile-database.org.
- Caldeira-Costa H; Ribeiro Moura M, Neves Feio R (2013) Taxonomic revision of Drymoluber Amaral, 1930 (Serpentes: Colubridae). Zootaxa 3716: 349–394. DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3716.3.3
Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Drymoluber dichrous in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used.
| Country | Province | Locality | Source |
| Colombia | Caquetá | Tres Esquinas | MCZ-65387; VertNet |
| Colombia | Cauca | Puerto Bello | Calderón et al. 2023 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Centro Experimental Amazónico | Betancourth-Cundar & Gutiérrez-Zamora 2010 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | General Farfán | YPM 007786; GBIF |
| Colombia | Putumayo | La Gaitana | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Puerto Leguizamo | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Río Caquetá, vereda Zarsal | Calderón et al. 2023 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Río Cauca | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Vereda Las Acacias | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Arapicos | Costa et al. 2013 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Centro Kiim | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Comunidad Amazonas | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Huasaga | MCZ R-36965; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Las Chontas | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Macas | AMNH 28830; examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Macuma, environs of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Normandía | AMNH 35927; examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Río Llushiño | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Río Napinaza | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Sucúa | USNM 283952; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Trail between Chiguaza–Macuma | Costa et al. 2013 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Tuteganosa | Costa 2010 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Boca del Río Piatúa | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Bosque Protector Selva Viva | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | El Bombón | KU 121882; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Napo | Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Payamino, 2 km SW of | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Puerto Barantilla, 2 km SE of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | Puerto Misahuallí | RMNH-RENA50972; GBIF |
| Ecuador | Napo | San Ramón | Costa et al. 2013 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Tena | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Universidad Ikiam | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | Wild Sumaco Wildlife Sanctuary | Camper et al. 2021 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Yachana Reserve | Whitworth & Beirne 2011 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Zoo el Arca | Photo by Diego Piñán |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Apaika | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Ávila | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Bloque 16 | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Boyopare, 8 km SE of | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | El Coca | MHNG 2220.099; collection database |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Estación Cientifica Yasuní | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Loreto | USNM 204125; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Loreto, 4 km NW of | USNM 204125; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Los Monos | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | NPF Repsol | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Pozo Petrolero Capirón | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Pozo Petrolero Nashiño | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Pozo Petrolero Zine 1 | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Pozo Yarentaro | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Puerto Murialdo | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Reserva Río Bigal | García et al. 2021 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | San José de Payamino | Maynard et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Santa Teresita | Carvajal-Campos 2020 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Tiputini Biodiversity Station | Cisneros-Heredia 2003 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Tukanari | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Andoas | AMNH 49074; examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Armadillo B | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Chichirota, 1 km N of | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Conambo | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Copataza | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Finca Heimatlos | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Kapawi Lodge | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Montalvo | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Parroquia 10 de Agosto | Costa et al. 2013 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Pavacachi | Costa 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Peter Archer’s place | Photo by Yatin Kalki |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Pindoyacu | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Pozo Nanto | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Puyo, barrio los Ángeles | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Puyo, finca Pablo Arias | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Puyo, Picolin | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Puyo, UEA | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Puyupungo, 1 km N of | SMF 90964; GBIF |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Copataza | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Curaray | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Liguino | Costa et al. 2013 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Maritayacu | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Negro, 3 km SE of | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Oglán | UCE 058; GBIF |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Puyo | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Tigre | Costa et al. 2013 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Sarayacu | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Shell | Lehr et al. 2004 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Sumak Kawsay In Situ | Bentley et al. 2021 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Tambo | Costa et al. 2013 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Tinajas del Río Anzu | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Valle Hermoso | Costa et al. 2013 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Villabo B | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Comunidad Santa elena | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Kichwa Lodge | observation.org |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | La Selva Lodge | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Laguna Grande | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Limoncocha Biological Reserve | LACM 75172; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Pañacocha | MHNG 2399.014; collection database |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Puerto Libre | Duellman 1978 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Sábalo Village | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | San Pablo de Kantesiya | MHNG 2412.054; collection database |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Sani Lodge | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Santa Cecilia | Duellman 1978 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Santa Elena, 11 km S of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Shushufindi | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Bombuscaro | Darwin Núñez, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Campo ECSA | Loaiza-Lange 2023 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | El Padmi | Loaiza-Lange 2023 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | El Tambo | Darwin Núñez, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Pachicutza | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Podocarpus | Darwin Núñez, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Río Tundayme | Loaiza-Lange 2023 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Tundayme | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Valle del Quimi | Betancourt et al. 2018 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Zamora | Darwin Núñez, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Zurmi | iNaturalist |
| Perú | Amazonas | Aguaruna Village | MVZ 163273; VertNet |
| Perú | Amazonas | Huambisa Village | MVZ 175321; VertNet |
| Perú | Amazonas | Huampami | USNM 316603; VertNet |
| Perú | Amazonas | Imasita | MVZ 175322; VertNet |
| Perú | Amazonas | San Antonio, Río Cenepa | USNM 316601; VertNet |
| Perú | Loreto | Andoas | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Perú | Loreto | Campo Andoas | Valqui Schult 2015 |
| Perú | Loreto | Mishana | MPM 10435; VertNet |
| Perú | Loreto | Moropon | MCZ 151771; VertNet |
| Perú | Loreto | Reserva Nacional Pacaya Samiria | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Perú | San Martín | San Antonio | iNaturalist; photo examined |