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Colubridae

Amazon False Fer-de-lance

Harmless

Xenodon severus

Amazon False Fer-de-lance
Xenodon severus, © Roland Kays
Amazon False Fer-de-lanceAmazon False Fer-de-lanceAmazon False Fer-de-lanceAmazon False Fer-de-lanceAmazon False Fer-de-lance

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

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

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.