Spilotes sulphureus
Spilotes sulphureus in defensive posture at Murici Ecological Station, Brazil
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Spilotes
Species:	S. sulphureus
Binomial name
Spilotes sulphureus (Wagler, 1824)
Synonyms[2]
Natrix sulphurea Wagler, 1824 Coluber poecilostoma Wied-Neuwied, 1824 Spilotes poecilostoma A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854 Phrynonax sulphureus Boulenger, 1894 Paraphrynonax versicolor Lutz & Mello, 1920 Pseustes sulphureus Wagler, 1824

Spilotes sulphureus, commonly known as the yellow-bellied hissing snake or Amazon puffing snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Colubridae. It is widely distributed throughout South America, as well as the Caribbean island of Trinidad.^[3]

Taxonomy

Originally placed in the genus Pseustes, it is now considered in the genus Spilotes.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.^[2]

• S. s. sulphureus (Wagler, 1824)
• S. s. dieperinkii (Schlegel, 1837)

Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was original described in a genus other than Spilotes.

Description

S. sulphureus is a large snake, which can grow up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) in total length (including tail).^[3] Its venom is bimodal and can directly affect both mammal and reptile prey.^[4]

Diet

Adults of S. sulphureus feed on small mammals, birds and other snakes (both venomous and non-venomous), while juveniles feed on lizards, mice and rats.^[3]