Yellow-bellied Puffing Snake
Pseustes sulphureus
One of South America's largest colubrid snakes, known for inflating its neck and hissing loudly when threatened, with a bright yellow underside.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 1.8-2.7 m (6-9 ft)
- Range
- Amazon Basin and northern South America
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Overview
The Yellow-bellied Puffing Snake is a large, powerful colubrid native to the Amazon Basin and surrounding lowlands. It is named for its dramatic defensive display of inflating the neck region and producing a loud hiss.
Despite its imposing size and bold behavior, it is entirely non-venomous and relies on constriction and bluff displays rather than toxins to subdue prey and deter threats.
How to identify it
- Dark olive, brown, or blackish dorsal coloration, often with a checkered pattern anteriorly
- Bright yellow to cream belly, giving the species its name
- Large, robust body with keeled scales
- Broad head distinct from neck, large eyes with round pupils
- Juveniles are more strongly patterned than adults, which can appear nearly uniform dark
Habitat & range
Found in lowland rainforest, forest edges, and riverine habitats throughout the Amazon Basin, from Colombia and Venezuela through Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, and the Guianas. Semi-arboreal, using both ground and low vegetation.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Diurnal and highly alert, capable of moving quickly on the ground and climbing into shrubs and trees. Preys on birds, eggs, rodents, and other small vertebrates. When threatened, it inflates its neck, raises its forebody, and hisses loudly, sometimes striking, though it is not medically significant. Egg-laying species.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called the puffing snake?
It inflates and flattens its neck region while hissing loudly as a defensive display.
Is the Yellow-bellied Puffing Snake dangerous?
No, it is non-venomous, though its size and bold display can be intimidating.
How large does it get?
It is one of the largest colubrids in South America, reaching up to about 2.7 m (9 ft).
What does it eat?
Birds, bird eggs, rodents, and other small vertebrates.
Yellow-bellied Puffing Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Yellow-bellied Puffing Snake.
