Is the African Hook-nosed Snake venomous?

No. The African Hook-nosed Snake (Scaphiophis albopunctatus) 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 African Hook-nosed Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The African Hook-nosed Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the African Hook-nosed Snake dangerous?

The African Hook-nosed Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the African Hook-nosed Snake live?

The African Hook-nosed Snake has verified records in 20 countries, including Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Zambia, Tanzania, United Republic of. See the distribution section below for its full range.

African Hook-nosed Snake (Scaphiophis albopunctatus): Venomous? ID & Range

About the African Hook-nosed Snake

Scaphiophis albopunctatus, the African shovel-nosed snake, is a non-venomous species of snake in the family Colubridae.

This snake is found across Central and Western Africa, and some areas of Eastern and Southern Africa, including in Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia

A mainly fossorial snake, its preferred habitats are dry savanna to open forest savanna, miombo woodland, moist grassland, moist woodland to primary lowland rainforest, and deciduous bushlands and thickets, where it feeds primarily on rodents; at times, it will repurpose or take over the burrows inhabited by its prey, such as those of ground squirrels.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: African Hook-nosed Snake

Is the African Hook-nosed Snake venomous?: No. The African Hook-nosed Snake (Scaphiophis albopunctatus) 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 African Hook-nosed Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The African Hook-nosed Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the African Hook-nosed Snake dangerous?: The African Hook-nosed Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the African Hook-nosed Snake live?: The African Hook-nosed Snake has verified records in 20 countries, including Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Zambia, Tanzania, United Republic of. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

Congo, Democratic Republic of the Zambia Tanzania, United Republic of Kenya Benin Cameroon Nigeria Uganda South Sudan Central African Republic Congo Ethiopia Sudan Togo Chad Angola Côte d’Ivoire Egypt Ghana Zimbabwe

More Colubridae snakes

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: Colubridae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Scaphiophis
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Scaphiophis albopunctatus