Baron's Green Racer
(Philodryas baroni)
Family: Colubrid Snakes (Colubridae)
Order: Squamates or Scaly Reptiles (Squamata)		 Click to see large distribution map

Other names:  Baron's Racer.
Size:  Usually 1-1.5 m, occasionally more than 2 m.
Distribution:  Argentina, and (according to some sources) Bolivia and Paraguay.
Habitat:  Found in forests near water, in granite outcrops, and in savannas near salt pans.
Food:  Mammals, birds, amphibians, fishes.
Reproduction:  The natural history and reproduction of this species is poorly known, but captive snakes have laid clutches of 8-12 eggs, which measured 20-30 X 40-58 mm and weighed about 15 g each. The eggs grow during the incubation and sometimes become nearly spherical. Hatching took place after 83-89 days or sometimes as soon as after 49 days, and the hatchlings measured 18-20 cm and weighed about 6 g. Larger females appear to produce offspring that are larger and heavier (up to 42 cm and 11.5 g). Males reach maturity after two years, females after three years.
Activity and behaviour:  Arboreal and diurnal. Like the South East Asian snakes of the genus Chrysopelea, Baron's Green Racer is able to flatten its body and glide short distances through the air from one tree to another.
Enemies and defense:  Individuals found in the wild are said to be aggressive and quick to strike, but this habit dissappears after a while in captive snakes.
Venom:  Baron's Green Racer is a back-fanged snake, a group of snakes that possess a toxic saliva which is transferred to the prey or bite victim with the help of enlarged teeth in the back of the mouth. Although some back-fanged snakes are dangerous to humans, no fatalities have been recorded for this species, and the snake is not considered dangerous to humans, although symptoms of envenomation will result from a bite. A 22-year-old man was reported bitten with the following symptoms: immediate, slight burning pain at the bite wound, evident swelling after five minutes, whole hand swollen after one hour with petechial haemorrhages in the skin, swelling progressing to mid-forearm level, ecchymoses along the line of lymphatics up to axilla. Recovery complete within 48 hours.
Sexual differences:  Like in most other snakes, males have proportionally longer tails.
Variation:  This species occurs in two different colour morphs, a brown one and a green one. Usually there is a black stripe from the nostril through the eye to the neck, and a whitish yellow stripe from the lips down side on the anterior third of the body which gradually turns green or greenish yellow, but unicoloured individuals are also found.

References:

Arzamendia, V. 1999. Philodryas baroni (Baron's racer). Herpetological Review 30(1): 55.

Campbell, J.A. & Lamar, W.W. 2004. The venomous reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Vol. 1-2. Comstock Publishing Associates, Ithaca, N.Y. 870 pp.

Cei, J.M. 1986. Reptiles del centro, centro-oeste y sur de la Argentina. Herpetofauna de las zonas aridas y semiaridas. Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali Monografie (Turin) 4: 1-527.

Cei, J.M. 1993. Reptiles del noroeste, nordeste y este de la Argentina. Herpetofauna de las selvas subtropicales, Puna y Pampas. Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali Monografie (Turin) 14: 1-949.

Fowler, I.R. & Graca Salomão, M. da 1994. A study of sexual dimorphism in six species from the colubrid snake genus Philodryas. Snake 26(2): 117-122.

Fowler, I.R. & Graca Salomão, M. da 1994. Activity patterns in the colubrid snake genus Philodryas and their relationship to reproduction and snakebite. Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society 29(10): 229-232.

Giraudo, A.R. & Scrocchi, G.J. 2002. Argentinian snakes: an annotated checklist. Smithsonian Herpetological Information Service 132: 1-53.

Golder, F. 1973. Eine ungewöhnliche Eiablage der braunen Farbvariante von Philodryas baroni, sowie Daten über eine Eiablage von Philodryas olfersii. Salamandra 9(1): 22-26.

Halloy, M. & Scrocchi, G. 2003. Philodryas baroni (green snake). Courtship behavior. Herpetological Review 34(2): 153.

Hohmeister, A. 1999. Bemerkungen zur Biologie und Pflege sudamerikanischer Strauchnattern der Gattung Philodryas Wagler, 1830 im Terrarium. Sauria (Berlin) 21(2): 9-21.

Kuch, U. & Jesberger, U. 1993. Human envenomation from the bite of the South American colubrid snake species Philodryas baroni Berg, 1895. Snake 25(1): 63-65.

Martinez, M.D. & Ibarguengoytia, N.R. 2004. Care and breeding of Baron's green racer Philodryas baroni. Reptilia (GB) 32: 35-38.

Peters, J.A. & Orejas-Miranda, B. 1970. Catalogue of the Neotropical Squamata. Part 1. Serpentes. Bulletin of the United States National Museum 297: 1-347.

Scolaro, J.A. 2006. Reptiles patagónicos: norte. Una guía de campo. Ed. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Trelew, Argentina. 112 pp.

Trutnau, L. 1998. Schlangen im Terrarium: Haltung, Pflege und Zucht. Vol. 2. Giftschlangen. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart. 367 pp.

Trutnau, L. 2002. Schlangen im Terrarium: Haltung, Pflege und Zucht. Vol. 1/1 & 1/2. Ungiftige Schlangen. 4th ed. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart. 632 pp.

Williams, J.D. 1982. Observaciones sobre la reproduccion en cautiverio de Philodryas baroni Berg, 1895 (Serpentes Colubridae). Neotropica (La Plata) 28(79): 61-70.






Text & layout:
Rune Midtgaard
GalleryHome
Green colour morph of Baron's Green Racer.
© Rune Midtgaard.