Black Halloween Snake

Black Halloween Snake

Pliocercus euryzonus

Silhouette: Alex Slavenko · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at Braulio Carrillo National Park

In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%

38 Verified sightings at Braulio Carrillo National Park From 2019 to 2026
61 In all 3 parks
August Best month
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted

About the Black Halloween Snake

Pliocercus euryzonus, commonly known as Cope's false coral snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is indigenous to southeastern Central America and northwestern South America. There are two recognized subspecies.

P. euryzonus is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The Reptile Database also lists Guatemala and Peru. The preferred natural habitat of P. euryzonus is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 1,460 m (4,790 ft).

P. euryzonus is oviparous. Including the nominotypical subspecies, two subspecies are recognized as being valid. Pliocercus euryzonus burghardti H.M. Smith & Chiszar, 1996 Pliocercus euryzonus euryzonus Cope, 1862 The subspecific name, burghardti, is in honor of herpetologist Gordon M. Burghardt.

Cope ED (1862). "Synopsis of the Species of Holcosus and Ameiva, with Diagnoses of new West Indian and South American Colubridæ". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia [14]: 60–81. (Pliocercus euryzonus, new species, pp. 72–73).

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Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
2 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
3 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Black Halloween Snake in Braulio Carrillo National Park?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Black Halloween Snake sighting in Braulio Carrillo National Park on a given day, based on 38 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 21st most-seen of the 57 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Black Halloween Snake in Braulio Carrillo National Park?

July and August

In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Black Halloween Snake in Braulio Carrillo National Park on a given day, against about 10% in March–April and October, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Black Halloween Snake?

Between 7 and 10 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black Halloween Snake sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.

Is Braulio Carrillo National Park the best place to see a Black Halloween Snake?

Yes

Of the 3 parks where we can rate Black Halloween Snake sightings, Braulio Carrillo National Park has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Tenorio Volcano National Park (Costa Rica, about 10%) and Arenal Volcano National Park (Costa Rica, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Black Halloween Snake live in Braulio Carrillo National Park?

Same family: Colubridae

The closest relatives of the Black Halloween Snake that you can see in Braulio Carrillo National Park (family Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes) are Blunthead Tree Snake (about 40%), Cloudy Snail-eating Snake (about 30%) and Western Tree Snake (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Black Halloween Snake sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Black Halloween Snake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Braulio Carrillo National Park (38 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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