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Amazon Blunt-headed Snake (Imantodes lentiferus)
Reptiles of Ecuador | Serpentes | Colubridae | Imantodes lentiferus
English common name: Amazon Blunt-headed Snake.
Spanish common name: Cordoncillo lenteja.
Recognition: ♂♂ 99 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=68.2 cm. ♀♀ 120 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. Snout–vent length=82 cm..1,2 Imantodes lentiferus can easily be identified by having a slender body, a blunt head with symmetrical black-bordered ornamentations, and large and bulging eyes that occupy approximately a quarter of the head’s length.1,3 This species differs from I. cenchoa by having fewer rows of dorsal scales at mid-body (15 vs 17) and by having smaller reddish tan body blotches (Fig. 1).1 Although it resembles Leptodeira approximans in its coloration, it differs from it by having a compact head with more prominent eyes.
Figure 1: Individuals of Imantodes lentiferus from Ecuador: Huella Verde Lodge, Pastaza province (); Copalinga Lodge, Zamora Chinchipe province (). j=juvenile.
Natural history: Imantodes lentiferus is a nocturnal, crepuscular, and entirely arboreal snake that inhabits well-preserved lowland and foothill rainforests, occurring in lower densities in forest-edge situations.1,4,5 Amazon Blunt-headed Snakes are typically observed coiled on, or gliding through, vegetation 0.3–2.3 m above the ground, but they also occur in the canopy.1,3–6 During the day, individuals have been found hidden inside bromeliads or at the base of epiphytic vegetation.7 Imantodes lentiferus has an opisthoglyphous dentition, meaning it has enlarged grooved teeth towards the rear of the maxilla and is venomous to small prey, but harmless to humans.8 The diet consists of frogs (including Boana and Pristimantis)1 and lizards (including Anolis scypheus).5,9 In the presence of a disturbance, Amazon Bluntheads tends to flee towards vegetation, emitting fetid fluids through the cloaca as a defensive mechanism. These snakes are considered docile and rarely attempt to bite. The clutch size consists of 2–3 elliptical eggs with an incubation period of 125 days.1–3 Egg-laying occurs in the dry season and the eggs hatch in the rainy season.1
Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..10 Imantodes lentiferus is listed in this category due to its wide distribution and presumed large populations that have not undergone rapid declines.10 Despite facing challenges such as deforestation and fragmentation resulting from logging, agricultural expansion, and urban development, substantial portions of undisturbed habitat are still available for this species.
Distribution: Imantodes lentiferus is widely distributed throughout the Amazon rainforest in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador (Fig. 2), Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Figure 2: Distribution of Imantodes lentiferus in Ecuador. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.
Etymology: The name Imantodes comes from the Latin word immanis (=enormous) and the Greek suffix -odes (=abundance),11 probably referring to the large size of the eyes in relation to the head. The specific epithet lentiferus comes from the Latin words lentis (=lentil) and fero (=to carry),11 probably referring to the lentil-shaped markings on the head.
See it in the wild: The Amazon Blunt-headed Snake can be seen at a rate of about once every few weeks in well-preserved habitats within Yasuní Scientific Station and Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve. These snakes can be spotted by scanning understory vegetation at night, especially after a heavy rain.
Author: Amanda QuezadaaAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador.
Editor: Alejandro ArteagaaAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador.
Photographer: Jose VieirabAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.,cAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador.
How to cite? Quezada A (2024) Amazon Blunt-headed Snake (Imantodes lentiferus). 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/LGHC3329
Literature cited:
- 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.
- Rojas SJS, Villacampa J, Whitworth A (2016) Notes on the reproduction of Kentropyx altamazonica (Squamata: Teiidae) and Imantodes lentiferus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) from southeast Peru. Phyllomedusa 15: 69–73. DOI: 10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v15i1p69-73
- Myers CW (1982) Blunt-headed Vine Snakes (Imantodes) in Panama, including a new species and other revisionary notes. American Museum Novitates 2738: 1–50.
- Whitworth A, Beirne C (2011) Reptiles of the Yachana Reserve. Global Vision International, Exeter, 130 pp.
- Field notes, Reptiles of Ecuador book project.
- Duellman WE (2005) Cusco amazónico: the lives of amphibians and reptiles in an Amazonian rainforest. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 433 pp.
- Henderson RW, Nickerson MA (1976) Observations on the behavioral ecology of three species of Imantodes (Reptilia, Serpentes, Colubridae). Journal of Herpetology 3: 205–210.
- Pérez-Santos C, Moreno AG (1988) Ofidios de Colombia. Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Torino, 517 pp.
- Cunha OR, Nascimento FP (1993) Ofídios da Amazônia. As cobras da região leste do Pará. Papéis Avulsos Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi 40: 9–87.
- Almendáriz A, Catenazzi A, Cisneros-Heredia DF, Gagliardi G, Gonzales L, Nogueira C, Schargel W, Rivas G (2015) Imantodes lentiferus. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T15179176A15179185.en
- 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 Imantodes lentiferus in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used.
| Country | Province | Locality | Source |
| Colombia | Caquetá | Comunidad Peña Roja | UNAL 10910; GBIF |
| Colombia | Caquetá | Sur del Río Pescado | MLS 1138; GBIF |
| Colombia | Nariño | Reserva La Isla Escondida | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Puerto Leguízamo | UNAL 172; GBIF |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Vereda Islas de Cartagena | IAvH-CT-39154; GBIF |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Gualaquiza | Collection database |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Macas | AMNH 113663; examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Makuma | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Normandía | AMNH 35906; examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Quebrada Río Napinaza | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Shell, 4.5 km W of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Sucúa | USNM 283956; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Taisha | USNM 162486; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Wisui | Chaparro et al. 2011 |
| Ecuador | Napo | 10 de Agosto, 2.5 km SE of | USNM 162493; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Napo | Ahuano, 6 km W of | MCZ R-171885; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Napo | Archidona | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Bermejo,15 km ENE Umbaqui | KU 121898; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Napo | Cordillera del Dué | KU 121899; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Napo | El Chaco | MHNG 2221.011; collection database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Gareno | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Hidroeléctrica Coca Codo Sinclair | COCASINCLAIR 2013 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Huaorani Lodge | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Huella Verde Lodge | This work; Fig. 1 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Jatun Sacha Biological Station | Vigle 2008 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Narupa Reserve | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Napo | San Rafael | MHNG 2309.084; collection database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Tena | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | Tutacano | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Universidad Ikiam | Photo by Grace Reyes |
| Ecuador | Napo | Wild Sumaco | Camper et al. 2021 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Yachana Reserve | Beirne et al. 2013 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Comuniad Huataracu | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Comunidad América Vergas | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Orellana | El Coca | KU 158783; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Hacienda Primavera | MHNG 2413.011; collection database |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Nenkepare | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Paushiyacu | Kingsbury et al. 2008 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Pozo Capirón II | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Pozo Petrolero Daimi I | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Pozo Petrolero EWA | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Pozo Petrolero Ishpingo I | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Reserva Río Bigal | García et al. 2021 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Río Yasuní, Tambococha | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | San José de Payamino | Maynard et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Tiputini Biodiversity Station | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Vía Maxus, km 38 | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Yarina Lodge | Bringsøe 2024 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Yasuní Scientific Station | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Alto Curaray | USNM 162490; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Arajuno | USNM 287930; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Arutam Field Station | SMF 90941; GBIF |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Arutam, 5 km NW of | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Balsaura | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Campamento K10 | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Campamento K4 | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Capahuari | AMNH 49112; examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Chichirota | USNM 162487; GBIF |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Chuyayacu | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Comunidad Tiwino | USNM 321115; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Conambo | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Concepción, 5.5 km SE of | USNM 167247; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Curaray Medio | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Estación Científica Juri Juri | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Finca Heimatlos | Photo by Ferhat Gundogdu |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Juyuintza | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Kurintza | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Mera | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Nuevo Corrientes | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Palora, 7 km NE of | SMF 90944; GBIF |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Bufeo | Ortega-Andrade et al. 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Capahuari | Myers 1982 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Tigre (town) | USNM 162489; GBIF |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Villano | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Santa Ana, 2 km NW of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Santa Rosa | Myers 1982 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Sarayacu | USNM 162491; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Sumak Kawsay In Situ | Bentley et al. 2021 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Tamandúa Reserve | Photo by Jorge Flores |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Tzarentza | Photo by Darwin Núñez |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Bosque Protector Aguarico | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | El Reventador | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | La Barquilla | UTA 65488; GBIF |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | La Selva Lodge | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Limoncocha | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Manzoya, 6.5 km SW of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Pañacocha | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Puerto Libre | Duellman 1978 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Río Sabalo campsite | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | San Pablo de Kantesiya | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Sani Lodge | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Santa Cecilia | Duellman 1978 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Santa Elena | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Copalinga | This work; Fig. 1 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Finca de Mesías San Martín | Torres-Carvajal et al. 2012 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Reserva Maycu | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Subcuenca del Río Tundayme | Betancourt et al. 2018 |
| Perú | Amazonas | Atsakus | USNM 316617; VertNet |
| Perú | Amazonas | Galilea | USNM 566581; VertNet |
| Perú | Amazonas | Huampami | MVZ 163287; VertNet |
| Perú | Amazonas | La Poza | MVZ 175327; VertNet |
| Perú | Amazonas | Quebrada Kampankis | Catenazzi and Venegas 2012 |
| Perú | Amazonas | Quebrada Katerpiza | Catenazzi & Venegas 2012 |
| Perú | Amazonas | Quebrada Wee | Catenazzi & Venegas 2012 |
| Perú | Loreto | Pongo Chinim | Catenazzi & Venegas 2012 |
| Perú | Loreto | Pongo de Manseriche | MVZ 16907; VertNet |
| Perú | Loreto | Río Yuvineto | MNHN 1978.2481; VertNet |