Xenodermidae
Achalinus hunanensis
HarmlessThis species has no widely used English common name.

Achalinus hunanensis is a non-venomous snake in the Xenodermidae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Xenodermidae
About the Achalinus hunanensis
Achalinus hunanensis, also known as the Hunan odd-scaled snake or Hunan burrowing snake, is a species of snake in the family Xenodermatidae. It is endemic to the province of Hunan in China.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Achalinus hunanensis
- Is the Achalinus hunanensis venomous?
- No. The Achalinus hunanensis is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Achalinus hunanensis poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Achalinus hunanensis is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Achalinus hunanensis dangerous?
- The Achalinus hunanensis is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Achalinus hunanensis live?
- The Achalinus hunanensis has verified records in 1 country, including China. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Xenodermidae snakes
Boulenger's Odd-scaled SnakeAchalinus rufescens
Black Odd-scaled SnakeAchalinus niger
Huang's odd-scaled snakeAchalinus huangjietangi
Peters' Odd-scaled SnakeAchalinus spinalis
Formosa Odd-scaled SnakeAchalinus formosanus
Achalinus ningshanensisAchalinus ningshanensis
Amami Takachiho SnakeAchalinus werneri
Achalinus dehuaensisAchalinus dehuaensis
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Xenodermidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Achalinus
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Achalinus hunanensis
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.