Colubridae
Amazon False Fer-de-lance
HarmlessXenodon severus






6 photographs of the Amazon False Fer-de-lance. © Roland Kays.
The Amazon False Fer-de-lance (Xenodon severus) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 12 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Amazon False Fer-de-lance
Xenodon severus, the Amazon false fer-de-lance, is a species of snake in the family Dipsadidae. It is found in South America.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Amazon False Fer-de-lance
- Is the Amazon False Fer-de-lance venomous?
- No. The Amazon False Fer-de-lance (Xenodon severus) 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 Amazon False Fer-de-lance poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Amazon False Fer-de-lance is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Amazon False Fer-de-lance dangerous?
- The Amazon False Fer-de-lance is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Amazon False Fer-de-lance live?
- The Amazon False Fer-de-lance has verified records in 12 countries, including Peru, Brazil, Colombia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Wagler's SnakeXenodon merremii
Neuwied's False Fer-de-lanceXenodon neuwiedii
False Fer-de-lanceXenodon rabdocephalus
South American Hognose SnakeXenodon dorbignyi
Banded Hognose SnakeXenodon pulcher
Ringed Hognose SnakeXenodon semicinctus
Guianan Green SnakeXenodon werneri
Günther's False Fer-de-lanceXenodon guentheri
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
- Xenodon
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Xenodon severus
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.