A large, snake-eating South American colubrid considered a natural ally of cattle ranchers because it hunts venomous pit vipers.
Description
The mussurana is a glossy snake reaching about 2 m, blue-black above and white or cream below as an adult, while juveniles are bright orange-red with a black head and white collar. The body is muscular and the head is barely distinct from the neck.
Behavior
A specialist predator of other snakes, the mussurana is naturally immune to pit viper venom and hunts species like the fer-de-lance by grasping behind the head, constricting tightly, and swallowing the prey alive. Latin American ranchers historically encouraged the species near corrals.
Range
Distributed widely across the lowlands of Central and tropical South America, from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. Two subspecies and several related Clelia species cover the broader range.
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