Juvenile common bird snakes are often darker than this individual.
It was dark—rainforest dark-- and rainy—rainforest rainy. I was trying to balance on a slippery fallen log that stretched over a newly freshened rivulet. Made it. Now came a rain-slicked slope about 30 feet long and descending about 15 feet. About half way down grew a spiny trunked palm. It was in a perfect position to make you want to grab hold of it as you slipped and slid by. I can tell you from experience, it would be better to fold your arms up and fall. At the end of the slope was a small but muddy permanent creek forded by a couple of easily replaceable small, wet, logs. And then on the right side of the trail (also in mud) was a small clump of non-spiny palms, the face high fronds of which were for some reason often chosen as resting places by common bird snakes, Pseustes (Phrynonax if you choose) poecilonotus, a pretty but feisty snake that looks and acts much like our rat snakes as well as by occasional juvenile fer-de-lance, Bothrops atrox (yes, these climb!). Just getting to the palm clump was often an adventure in adversity. Then, if a snake was there identifying it before grabbing might also be trying. Adult bird snakes, black above and yellow(ish) below were easily identified. But the mossy brownish juveniles looked far too much like a fer-de-lance for a snap identification. Love those rainy Amazon nights.