Colubridae
Assam Mountain Snake
HarmlessPlagiopholis nuchalis






6 photographs of the Assam Mountain Snake. © Ian Dugdale.
The Assam Mountain Snake (Plagiopholis nuchalis) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 5 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Assam Mountain Snake
Plagiopholis nuchalis, commonly known as the Assam mountain snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Asia.
Geographic range
P. nuchalis is found in China (Yunnan), Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. It may possibly also be found in India (Assam) and Vietnam.
Description
A small snake, P. nuchalis may attain a total length of 45 cm (18 in), which includes a tail 5.5 cm (2.2 in) long. Dorsally it is blackish brown, with many of the dorsal scales edged with black. On the neck there is a broad black chevron, pointing forward, to which the specific name, nuchalis, refers. Ventrally it is yellowish, marked with black.
Reproduction
P. nuchalis is oviparous.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Assam Mountain Snake
- Is the Assam Mountain Snake venomous?
- No. The Assam Mountain Snake (Plagiopholis nuchalis) 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 Assam Mountain Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Assam Mountain Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Assam Mountain Snake dangerous?
- The Assam Mountain Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Assam Mountain Snake live?
- The Assam Mountain Snake has verified records in 5 countries, including Thailand, Myanmar, China. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Chinese Mountain SnakePlagiopholis styani
Blakeway’s Mountain SnakePlagiopholis blakewayi
Plagiopholis pluvialisPlagiopholis pluvialis
Delacour's Mountain SnakePlagiopholis delacouri
Common Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis
Common WatersnakeNerodia sipedon
Gopher SnakePituophis catenifer
DeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi
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
- Plagiopholis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Plagiopholis nuchalis
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.