Brown Vinesnake

Brown Vinesnake

Oxybelis aeneus

Silhouette: Alex Slavenko · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at João Pessoa

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

6 Verified sightings at João Pessoa
November Best month
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted

About the Brown Vinesnake

Oxybelis aeneus, commonly known as the Mexican vine snake or brown vine snake, is a species of colubrid snake, which is endemic to the Americas. Oxybelis aeneus is found through southern Mexico, to northern South America and Trinidad and Tobago. There is no loreal scale, and there are 8–10 upper labials.

The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 17 rows at midbody. Ventrals 173–205; subcaudals 150–188, divided (paired). The anal plate is divided in Arizona specimens, but is entire in South American specimens. In Arizona O. aeneus is also called "pike-headed tree snake". In Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, it is known as a "horse whip" or "vine snake". Mostly arboreal and diurnal, O. aeneus is quite often mistaken for a vine. When threatened, it sometimes releases foul smelling secretions from its vent.

Oxybelis aeneus feeds mainly on lizards (mostly anoles), but also eats frogs, small rodents and birds. Oxybelis aeneus is a mildly venomous rear-fanged snake, but it is not considered dangerous to humans. Oxybelis aeneus is oviparous. Clutch sizes of 3–6 have been published. In... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability

More parks will be added in future updates.

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 João Pessoa 🇧🇷 Brazil
~20%
2 Recife 🇧🇷 Brazil
~10%
3 Fortaleza 🇧🇷 Brazil
~10%
4 Maceió 🇧🇷 Brazil
~10%
5 Vitória 🇧🇷 Brazil
~10%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
2 La Paz Waterfall Gardens 🇨🇷 Costa Rica In captivity
3 Wiwa Quito 🇪🇨 Ecuador In captivity

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Brown Vinesnake in João Pessoa?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Vinesnake sighting in João Pessoa on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 13th most-seen of the 15 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 Brown Vinesnake in João Pessoa?

November

In that month about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Vinesnake in João Pessoa on a given day, against under 5% in February–April, June–July and September–October, the lowest months. That is one of João Pessoa's driest months, with about 20 mm of rain against 230 mm in June.

What time of day is best to see a Brown Vinesnake?

Between 9 am and noon

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Brown Vinesnake sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.

Is João Pessoa the best place to see a Brown Vinesnake?

Yes

Of the 5 cities where we can rate Brown Vinesnake sightings, João Pessoa has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come Recife (Brazil, about 10%) and Fortaleza (Brazil, about 10%).

Where does the Brown Vinesnake sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Brown Vinesnake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in João Pessoa (6 verified sightings), 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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