Is the Anderson's Mountain Keelback venomous?

No. The Anderson's Mountain Keelback (Opisthotropis andersonii) 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 Anderson's Mountain Keelback poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Anderson's Mountain Keelback is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Anderson's Mountain Keelback dangerous?

The Anderson's Mountain Keelback is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Anderson's Mountain Keelback live?

The Anderson's Mountain Keelback has verified records in 3 countries, including Hong Kong, China, Myanmar. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Colubridae

Anderson's Mountain Keelback

Harmless

Opisthotropis andersonii

Anderson's Mountain Keelback — Opisthotropis andersonii, © Lawrence Hylton

6 photographs of the Anderson's Mountain Keelback. © Lawrence Hylton.

The Anderson's Mountain Keelback (Opisthotropis andersonii) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 3 countries.

Family: Colubridae

About the Anderson's Mountain Keelback

Anderson's stream snake (Opisthotropis andersonii), also known commonly as Anderson's mountain keelback, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to Asia

Etymology

The specific name, andersonii, is in honor of Scottish herpetologist John Anderson.

Geographic range

O. andersonii is found in Hong Kong and Vietnam.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of O. andersonii are forest and freshwater wetlands, at altitudes of 300–900 m (980–2,950 ft).

Description

Dorsally, O. andersonii is blackish olive. Ventrally it is whitish, except for the chin and lower labials which are brown. The snout is short, broad, and depressed. There is a single prefrontal, and only one pair of chin shields.

The dorsal scales, which are arranged in 17 rows throughout the entire length of the body, are smooth on the neck, feebly keeled at midbody, and strongly keeled on the tail. Adults of O. andersonii have a total length (including tail) of 38–46 cm (15–18 in). The tail is 15–20 % of the total length.

Reproduction

O. andersonii is oviparous.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Anderson's Mountain Keelback

Is the Anderson's Mountain Keelback venomous?: No. The Anderson's Mountain Keelback (Opisthotropis andersonii) 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 Anderson's Mountain Keelback poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Anderson's Mountain Keelback is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Anderson's Mountain Keelback dangerous?: The Anderson's Mountain Keelback is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Anderson's Mountain Keelback live?: The Anderson's Mountain Keelback has verified records in 3 countries, including Hong Kong, China, Myanmar. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Why is it called the Anderson's Mountain Keelback?: The specific name, andersonii, is in honor of Scottish herpetologist John Anderson.

Where it is found

Hong Kong China Myanmar

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: Opisthotropis
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Opisthotropis andersonii

Keep learning

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