The cross- eyed snake [1] , or the cross-eyed snake [1] ( Latin Helicops ) is a genus of serpent from the family of ape-like , living in South America .
| Cross-eyed snakes |
Leopard cross-eyed snake |
| Scientific classification |
|---|
| No rank : | Bilateral symmetric |
| Infraclass : | Lepidozavromorfy |
| Infrastructure : | Alethinophidia |
| Family: | Smooth-toothed Snakes |
|
| International scientific name |
|---|
Helicops Wagler , 1828 |
|
The total length of representatives of this genus ranges from 70 cm to 1.2 m. These snakes received their name for the unusual position of the eyes, which are raised high up and small in size. The head is small, flat, wide, slightly triangular. The body is slightly thick and stocky. Color is black, brown, olive, brownish, gray with different shades. Some species have light streaks or spots along the body. The belly is yellowish, creamy, reddish, dark orange.
They inhabit places near water bodies, they are never removed from the banks of rivers, lakes or swamps. They feed on amphibians and fish . These are mostly non-venomous snakes, only a few have poisonous fangs ( Helicops modestus) .
These are viviparous snakes.
Are endemic to South America.
As of July 2018, the genus includes 17 species [1] [2] :
- Helicops angulatus (Linnaeus, 1758) - Angular cross-eyed snake
- Helicops apiaka Kawashita-Ribeiro, Ávila & Morais, 2013
- Helicops carinicaudus (Wied-Neuwied, 1825) - Kileh - tailed cross-eyed snake
- Helicops danieli Amaral, 1938 - Daniel’s Cross - eyed Snake
- Helicops gomesi Amaral, 1921 - Cross - eyed snake Amaral
- Helicops hagmanni Roux, 1910 - Santarem cross-eyed snake
- Helicops infrataeniatus Jan, 1865
- Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel, 1837) - Leopard cross-eyed snake
- Helicops modestus Günther, 1861 - Brazilian cross-eyed snake
- Helicops nentur Costa, Santana, Leal, Koroiva & Garcia, 2016
- Helicops pastazae Shreve, 1934 - Colombian cross-eyed snake
- Helicops petersi Rossman, 1976 - Cross - eyed Peters snake
- Helicops polylepis Günther, 1861 - Multi - toothed, cross-eyed snake
- Helicops scalaris Jan, 1865 - Kilebry cross-eyed snake
- Helicops tapajonicus Da Frota, 2005
- Helicops trivittatus (Gray, 1849) - Three - lane cross-eyed snake
- Helicops yacu Rossman & Dixon, 1975 - Rossman's Cross - eyed Snake
