Yellow Head Mussurana

Boiruna maculata, also known commonly as a mussurana (along with several other snakes), is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to South America.

 B. maculata has smooth dorsal scales. Adults are uniformly black, both dorsally and ventrally. Juveniles are black dorsally, and red ventrally, with a red nuchal collar.

Geographic range: B. maculata can be found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Habitat: B. maculata is found in a variety of habitats including forest, savanna, shrubland, and desert.

Behavior: B. maculata is terrestrial.

Diet: B. maculata preys predominately upon snakes, but also upon fishes, lizards, birds, and small mammals.

Reproduction: B. maculata is oviparous.

Venom: B. maculata is rear-fanged (opisthoglyphous), and it possesses a venom which is potentially dangerous to humans, especially children.