Rainforest reminiscences 5: The rusty whipsnake

In contrast to the emerald tree boa, which is orange as a baby and green as an adult, the rusty whipsnake, Chironius scurrulus, reverses the scenario.

Hatchlings of this forest speedster are leaf green, blending well with the rainforest verdure:

The adults, which may attain a length of 7 feet, are predominantly a beautiful burnished rusty orange but may have a varied number of scattered charcoal scales.

The juveniles seem to feed primarily on hylid frogs and possibly lizards, while the adults eat amphibians, fish, lizards, and perhaps small mammals. We usually encounter the juveniles in shrubs along creek edged forest trails and the adults along the larger rivers.

This is a nonvenomous snake but it will not hesitate to strike and bite if carelessly restrained.

More photos under the jump...

Within a few weeks the brilliant green of the hatchling rusty whipsnake has faded: An adult rusty whipsnake:

Author, photographer, and columnist Richard Bartlett is one of the most prolific writers on herpetological subjects in the 20th century. With hundreds of books and articles to their credit, Richard and his wife Pat have spent over four decades documenting reptiles both in the field and in captivity. For a list of their current titles, please visit their page in our bookstore.