Racer, Ground Snake – Alsophis
cantherigerus caymanus
(Grand Cayman) |
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Size: 500 to 860 mm SVL* As is usual with most snakes,
females are larger than males. The record size for a female
so far is 1190 mm SVL* and weighing 1.25 kg. Basic colour
is grey with a series of small dark blotches along the
sides with larger adults sometimes showing a rosy pink
wash. When upset this snake will expand its throat to each
side to make its head appear larger as a defence. It is
active during daylight hours. Its habitat encompasses all
strata. In other words, it is both ground-dwelling and
arboreal. This adaptation enables this snake to be most
successful given the limited resources of a small island.
This snake is well known as being the primary predator
of Cuban Tree Frogs. It also takes the nestlings of birds,
causing alarm calls from the adult birds which will often
gather to mob the snake. This snake has been seen to drop
from a tree, while yet holding a prey species in its jaws.
It will then seem to go into a temporary catatonic state
or “plays dead”, following which it will rapidly
slither away with its prey. One of the benefits of our
local racer is that it feeds on baby rats. |
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| SVL |
Snout to Vent Length |
| TL |
Total Length (including tail) |
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