Published September 6, 2020. Updated May 22, 2024. Open access. | Gallery ❯ |
Yellow-headed Flame-Snake (Oxyrhopus occipitalis)
Reptiles of Ecuador | Serpentes | Colubridae | Oxyrhopus occipitalis
English common names: Yellow-headed Flame-Snake, Brown-capped False Coral Snake, Northern Calico Snake, Yellow-headed Calico-Snake.
Spanish common name: Falsa coral cabeciamarilla.
Recognition: ♂♂ 92.7 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. ♀♀ 102.7 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail.. Adults of Oxyrhopus occipitalis can be identified from other snakes in the Ecuadorian Amazon by having yellow snout and a blackish patch on the dorsal surface of the head, which separates the head from the rest of the body (Fig. 1). The body is uniformly red or orange-red dorsally and whitish ventrally.1–3 Snakes of this species change in coloration throughout the organism’s lifespan: juveniles present dorsal bands that extend to the belly,1 which become faint as adults.4,5 Adults of this species resemble Drepanoides anomalus and Pseudoboa coronata, and the juveniles resemble those of other Oxyrhopus and those of Siphlophis ayauma, but these other snakes have a dark or black snout (yellow or pale in O. occipitalis).1
Figure 1: Individuals of Oxyrhopus occipitalis from Ecuador: Huella Verde, Pastaza province (); Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve, Napo province (); Archidona, Napo province (). j=juvenile.
Natural history: Oxyrhopus occipitalis is a snake that inhabits lowland and foothill evergreen forests.8,9 It occurs in plantations, disturbed areas, and roads,10 but it usually dwells in well-preserved forests.1,9–11 Yellow-headed Flame-Snakes are mostly nocturnal,1,5,12 but may as well be active during daylight hours.14 They are primarily terrestrial,13,14 moving among leaf-litter on the forest floor or on low (0–50 cm above the ground)15 vegetation,9,12,14 usually near watercourses.1,5,16 Flame snakes are mildly venomous, which means they are dangerous to small prey, but not to humans.12 Their diet consists of small mammals,12 lizards (Arthrosaura reticulata),1 and amphisbaenians.14 Although they can bite, the typical defense strategy in these snakes is to flee into the vegetation.14 Clutches consist of 13–17 eggs.1
Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..5 Oxyrhopus occipitalis is listed in this category because it is a widely-distributed species that is present in several protected areas throughout its range.14,17 In Ecuador, it is found in Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve, Llanganates National Park, Sangay National Park, Sumaco National Park, Yasuní National Park, and Yachana Reserve. Ongoing human-related causes of mortality for members of this species are habitat loss, traffic, and direct killing. Yellow-headed Flame-Snakes are often mistaken with venomous snakes and therefore killed on sight. However, these causes will likely not lead the species to extinction in the near-term future.17
Distribution: Oxyrhopus occipitalis is widely-distributed throughout the Amazon basin and adjacent foothills of the Andes in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador (Fig. 2), French Guiana, Guyana, Perú, Suriname, and Venezuela.4,6
Figure 2: Distribution of Oxyrhopus occipitalis in Ecuador. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.
Etymology: The name Oxyrhopus comes from the Greek words oxys (=quick) and rhops (=bush),18 and probably refers to the escape behavior of these snakes. The specific epithet occipitalis is derived from the Latin word occiput, meaning “back of the head”.18 It probably refers to the dark patch on the dorsal part of the head.
See it in the wild: Yellow-headed Flame-Snakes can be seen at a rate of about once a week in forested areas throughout the Amazon basin in Ecuador. Prime locations for this species include Yasuní Scientific Station, Tiputini Biodiversity Station, and Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve, where the snakes are typically spotted on the forest floor along trails at night.
Acknowledgments: Special thanks to Andy Proaño, David Buitrón, Darwin Núñez, Diego Piñán, Freddy Velásquez, Grace Reyes, Jorge Vaca, Jose Manuel Falcón, and Thierry García for providing locality data for Oxyrhopus occipitalis.
Authors: Amanda QuezadaaAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.,bAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador. and Alejandro ArteagabAffiliation: Khamai Foundation, Quito, Ecuador.
Photographer: Jose VieiraaAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.,cAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador.
How to cite? Quezada A, Arteaga A (2024) Yellow-headed Flame-Snake (Oxyrhopus occipitalis). 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/QVFL2829
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.
- 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: 317–578. DOI: 10.2988/0006-324X-125.4.317
- Hoge AR, Santos NP, Heitor C, Lopes LA, Souza ID (1972) Serpentes coletadas pelo projeto Rondon VII em Iauareté, Brasil. Memórias do Instituto Butantan 36: 221–232.
- MacCulloch RD, Lathrop A, Kok PJ, Ernst R, Kalamandeen M (2009) The genus Oxyrhopus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Xenodontinae) in Guyana: Morphology, distributions and comments on taxonomy. Papéis Avulsos Zoologia 49: 487–495. DOI: 10.1590/s0031-10492009003600001
- Martins M, Oliveira ME (1998) Natural history of snakes in forests of the Manaus region, Central Amazonia, Brazil. Herpetological Natural History 6: 78–150.
- Lynch JD (2009) Snakes of the genus Oxyrhopus (Colubridae: Squamata) in Colombia: taxonomy and geographic variation. Papéis Avulsos Zoologia 49: 319–337. DOI: 10.1590/s0031-10492009002500001
- Sheehy CM, Yánez-Muñoz MH, Valencia JH, Smith EN (2014) A new species of Siphlophis (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Xenodontinae) from the eastern Andean slopes of Ecuador. South America Journal of Herpetology 9: 30–45. DOI: 10.2994/sajh-d-12-00031.1
- Torres-Carvajal O, Pazmiño-Otamendi G, Salazar-Valenzuela D (2019) Reptiles of Ecuador: a resource-rich online portal, with dynamic checklists and photographic guides. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 13: 209–229. DOI: 10.2994/sajh-d-12-00031.1
- Field notes, Reptiles of Ecuador book project.
- Whitworth A, Beirne C (2011) Reptiles of the Yachana Reserve. Global Vision International, Exeter, 127 pp. 10.13140/RG.2.1.4130.6968
- Ortega HM (2010) Diversidad de la herpetofauna en la centro Amazonía del Ecuador. MSc thesis, Instituto de Ecología A.C., 150 pp.
- Starace F (1998) Guide des serpents et amphisbènes de Guyanne francaise. Ibis Rouge Editions, Matoury Cedex, 448 pp.
- Yánez-Muñoz MH, Venegas PJ (2008) Anfibios y reptiles/Amphibians and reptiles. In: Alverson WS, Vriesendorp C, del Campo Á, Moskovits DK, Stotz DF, García Donayre M, Borbor LA (Eds) Ecuador, Perú: Cuyabeno-Güeppí. Rapid Biological and Social Inventories Report 20. The Field Museum, Chicago, 90–96.
- de Fraga R, Lima AP, da Costa Prudente AL, Magnusson WE (2013) Guide to the snakes of the Manaus region - Central Amazonia. Editopa Inpa, Manaus, 303 pp.
- Duellman WE (2005) Cusco amazónico: the lives of amphibians and reptiles in an Amazonian rainforest. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 433 pp.
- Rojas-Morales J, Marín-Martínez M, Zuluaga-Isaza J (2018) Aspectos taxonómicos y ecogeográficos de algunas serpientes (Reptilia: Colubridae) del área de influencia de la Central Hidroeléctrica Miel I, Caldas, Colombia. Biota Colombiana 19: 73–91. DOI: 10.21068/c2018.v19n02a07
- Ouboter P, Martins MRC, Schargel W, Rivas G (2019) Oxyrhopus occipitalis. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T177433A44950913.en
- Brown R (1956) Composition of scientific words. Smithsonian Books, Washington D.C., 882 pp.
Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Oxyrhopus occipitalis 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 | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Colombia | Caquetá | Mandalay | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Colombia | Caquetá | Puerto Abeja | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Colombia | Caquetá | San José del Fragüa | Lynch 2009 |
| Colombia | Caquetá | Tres Esquinas | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Orito | GBIF |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Vereda El Líbano | Lynch 2009 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Centro Shuar Kiim | Sheehy et al. 2014 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Centro Shuar Makuma | Sheehy et al. 2014 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | El Tiink | MZUA.RE.0107; examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Gualaquiza | MNHN 1906.253; collection database |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Macas | AMNH 28855; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Miazal | Jose Manuel Falcón, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Puerto Morona | Jose Manuel Falcón, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Reserva Ecológica El Paraíso | Pazmiño-Otamendi 2020 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Río Upano | AMNH 28810; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | San Juan Bosco | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Sapapentza | Jose Manuel Falcón, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Taisha | Jose Manuel Falcón, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Tiwintza | Jose Manuel Falcón, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Watsakentsa | Jose Manuel Falcón, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Napo | Anaconda Lodge | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Archidona | Diego Piñan, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Napo | El Chaco | Diego Piñán, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Napo | El Reventador | MHNG 0.6144; collection database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Guagua Sumaco | Andy Proaño, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Napo | Hollín–Loreto | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Huella Verde Lodge | This work; Fig. 1 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve | Vigle 2008 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Jondachi | Grace Reyes, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Napo | Jondachi, 20 km E of | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Kiederle Farm | USNM 232981; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Napo | Napo–Loreto | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Pacto Sumaco | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Puerto Napo | UIMNH 61115; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Napo | Reserva Yachana | Whitworth & Beirne 2011 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Sector Sarayacu | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Wild Sumaco | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Yuralpa | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Yuralpa Derecho | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Zoo el Arca | This work; Fig. 1 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Aguarico | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Ávila Viejo | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Campamento 4 | Pazmiño-Otamendi 2020 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Comuna 24 de Mayo | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Plataforma Tiputini C | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Pompeya Sur–Iro, km 40 | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Pozo Sunka | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Río Bigal | Thierry García, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Tiputini Biodiversity Station | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Yasuní Scientific Station | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Balsaura | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Below Nuevos Horizontes | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Cabeceras del Bobonaza | USNM 232980; collection database |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Campamento K10 | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Campamento K4 | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Centro Fátima | Andy Proaño, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Conambo | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Copataza (Achuar) | Peñafiel 2013 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Finca Heimatlos | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Iwia (Achuar) | Peñafiel 2013 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Juyuintza | Ortega-Andrade 2010 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Kawa | Peñafiel 2013 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Llanganates | Darwin Núñez, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Mera | KU 133534; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Mera, 4 km N of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Montalvo | USNM 232975; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Paseo de los Monos | Jose Manuel Falcón, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Puyo | MHNG 1337.033; collection database |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Raka Yaku | Freddy Velásquez, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Sarayacu | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Shell | USNM 232978; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Shiripuno Lodge | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Tamandúa Reserve | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Tambo Unión | USNM 232976; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Tzarentza | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Duvuno | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Garita Casa de Máquinas | Pazmiño-Otamendi 2020 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Garzacocha | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | km 10 Lago Agrio–Shushufindi | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Lago Agrio | Duellman 1978 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Limoncocha | UIMNH 54648; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Puerto Libre | Duellman 1978 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Redondococha | Yánez-Muñóz & Venegas 2008 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Río Aguarico | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Río Bermejo | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | San Pablo de Kantesiya | MHNG 2260.003; collection database |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Santa Cecilia | Duellman 1978 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Senderos Cuyabeno | David Buitrón, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Shushufindi | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Vía a La Bonita | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Alto Machinaza | Jorge Vaca, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Bombuscaro | Darwin Núñez, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Campanas | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Colibrí | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Concesión minera El Zarza | Nogueira et al. 2019 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | El Padmi | Armijos 2010 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Miazi | Darwin Núñez, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Microcuenca del Río Wawaime | Pazmiño-Otamendi 2020 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Nangaritza | Darwin Núñez, pers. comm. |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Tundayme | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Valle del Quimi | Betancourt et al. 2018 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Yantzaza | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Perú | Amazonas | Aguaruna Village | MVZ 163303; VertNet |
| Perú | Amazonas | Aintam | MVZ 163299; VertNet |
| Perú | Amazonas | Cerro de Kampankis | Catenazzi & Venegas 2016 |
| Perú | Amazonas | La Poza | USNM 566596; VertNet |
| Perú | Amazonas | Yambrasbamba | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Perú | Loreto | Aguas Negras | USNM 521057; VertNet |
| Perú | Loreto | Balta | LSUMZ 26807 |
| Perú | Loreto | Paiche Playa | GBIF |
| Perú | Loreto | Río Lagarto Cocha | GBIF |
| Perú | Loreto | Río Tigre | Campbell & Lamar 2004 |
| Perú | Loreto | Ucayali | FMNH 45607; VertNet |