Ecuadorian Spilotes or Pulling-string Snake
Spilotes pullatus cf. pullatus • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Spilotes, Species: Spilotes pullatus
Central and South America; from Mexico down through Central America to Northern Argentina and Brazil. This specimen is located in Ecuador, within its primary range.
Look up Ecuadorian Spilotes or Pulling-string Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Non-venomous
Danger Level
Low Risk; the snake is non-venomous and generally avoids humans, though it can bite aggressively and inflate its neck if cornered.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Spilotes, Species: Spilotes pullatus
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN); however, it faces localized threats from habitat loss and being mistaken for venomous species by locals.
Physical Description
Distinctive black and yellow or black and white diagonal banding or speckling. The head is relatively large and distinct from the neck, with large eyes and round pupils. Scales are slightly keeled, and the body is laterally compressed.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen in the image appears to be an adult of approximately 1.8 to 2 meters. This species is one of the largest colubrids, reaching lengths of up to 2.7 meters (nearly 9 feet).
Habitat
Inhabits moist and dry tropical forests, gallery forests, and secondary growth areas. Often found near water or in arboreal settings, ranging from sea level to approximately 1,500 meters elevation.
Behavior & Temperament
Diurnal and semi-arboreal. It is an active forager. When threatened, it performs a characteristic defensive display by inflating its neck vertically and vibrating its tail against leaf litter to create a rattling sound.
Diet & Feeding
Generalist predator feeding on birds, bird eggs, small mammals (rodents), lizards, and occasionally amphibians. It uses active hunting and constriction to subdue prey.
Reproduction
Oviparous; females lay clutches of 10 to 25 eggs. Breeding typically coincides with the onset of the rainy season in tropical regions.
Venom Profile
Non-venomous - no medically significant venom.
Look-alikes
Often confused with the Tiger Rat Snake (Spilotes sulphureus), which is generally more brown/yellow, or large Forest Racers (Drymarchon species) which lack the distinct yellow diagonal banding.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN); however, it faces localized threats from habitat loss and being mistaken for venomous species by locals.
Cultural Significance
Known in various regions as 'Caninana'. It plays a vital ecological role in controlling rodent populations and is often featured in local folklore as a fast and formidable snake.
Notable Features
Remarkable for its size and its ability to inflate its throat when agitated, making it look much larger and more intimidating to predators.
Notes
Ecuador