Colubridae
Beautiful Calico Snake
HarmlessOxyrhopus formosus
The Beautiful Calico Snake (Oxyrhopus formosus) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 10 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Beautiful Calico Snake
Oxyrhopus formosus (vernacular names: beautiful calico snake, Formosa false coral snake) is a neotropical snake of the family Dipsadidae. Its distribution is not fully understood, because of inaccurate identifications and confusion with other Oxyrhopus species. It has been reported from Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. Reports from the Guiana region are based on misidentified O. occipitalis. Oxyrhopus formosus are robust, the head is entirely yellow, and adults are red with prominent black bands; O. occipitalis are slender, the snout is yellow and the top of head is brown, and adults are red with faint crossbands.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Beautiful Calico Snake
- Is the Beautiful Calico Snake venomous?
- No. The Beautiful Calico Snake (Oxyrhopus formosus) 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 Beautiful Calico Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Beautiful Calico Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Beautiful Calico Snake dangerous?
- The Beautiful Calico Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Beautiful Calico Snake live?
- The Beautiful Calico Snake has verified records in 10 countries, including Brazil, Peru, Ecuador. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Forest Flame SnakeOxyrhopus petolarius
Guibe's Flame SnakeOxyrhopus guibei
Brazilian False Coral SnakeOxyrhopus trigeminus
Tschudi's False Coral SnakeOxyrhopus melanogenys
Amazon False Coral SnakeOxyrhopus rhombifer
Duméril's False Coral SnakeOxyrhopus clathratus
Yellow-headed Flame-SnakeOxyrhopus occipitalis
Impostor Flame-SnakeOxyrhopus vanidicus
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
- Oxyrhopus
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Oxyrhopus formosus
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.