While there are several subspecies of Mussurana, most of the specimens in the US pet trade are from Argentina and have been reclassified as Boiruna maculata from the former name of Clelia occipitolutea.  If you're not familiar with Mussurana, they are extraordinary snakes and some of the most exciting colubrids to hit the US market in a while. They reach maximum lengths of 6-7 feet and are jet, shiny black... indigo style!  They are highly intelligent snakes, that are hardy and typically aggressive feeders.  They are natural snake feeders in the wilds of Central and South America, but they can readily be switched over to rodents with an extremely aggressive feeding response. Although they are rear-fanged and mildly venomous, they are uninclined to bite, and are considered to be harmless to humans.  Killer snakes to be working with!

 

Most of my stock comes from a breeder in Uruguay named David Fabius who has been working with Mussurana and Baron’s Racers for years.  He has also been working with piebald Mussurana and has been starting to send some into the US pet trade.  I have a pair myself and I couldn’t be more pleased with them.  The trait acts as a co-dominant trait allowing you to produce pied offspring without both parents carrying the gene.  We have also learned that the piebald gene acts as a visual het for super piebald.  You can produce super pieds with pied x pied or a super pied x pied pairing.

 

David will soon be sending me his 2009 offspring and I expect to be able offer both piebald and super piebald babies.  Every year David is able to produce higher quality piebalds, and this year’s batch has the highest percentage of white yet!!