Is the Beddome's Black Earth Snake venomous?

No. The Beddome's Black Earth Snake (Melanophidium punctatum) 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 Beddome's Black Earth Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Beddome's Black Earth Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Beddome's Black Earth Snake dangerous?

The Beddome's Black Earth Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Beddome's Black Earth Snake live?

The Beddome's Black Earth Snake has verified records in 1 country, including India. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Uropeltidae

Beddome's Black Earth Snake

Harmless

Melanophidium punctatum

Beddome's Black Earth Snake — Melanophidium punctatum, (c) avrajjal, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

3 photographs of the Beddome's Black Earth Snake. (c) avrajjal, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

The Beddome's Black Earth Snake (Melanophidium punctatum) is a non-venomous snake in the Uropeltidae family, recorded in 1 country.

Family: Uropeltidae

About the Beddome's Black Earth Snake

Melanophidium punctatum, commonly known as Beddome's black shield-tail snake or Beddome's black earth snake, is a species of shield-tail snake endemic to the Western Ghats of India.

Geographic range

It is found in the Western Ghats between Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary in the north and Kanyakumari district (Tamil Nadu) in the south.

Description

Snout rounded; rostral small, just visible from above; frontal as long as or longer than its distance from the end of the snout; suture between the ocular and the frontal less than one third the length of the latter shield. Eye very small. Diameter of body 42 to 48 times in the total length. 15 scales round the middle of the body, 17 behind the head. Ventrals rather more than twice as broad as the contiguous scales, 184–198; subcaudals 15–18. Black above, beautifully iridescent; ventrals and the two lower series of scales on each side with a broad white border.

Type locality: "Travancore, [...] under a stone in the Muti-Kuli Vayal, a little valley on the Asamboo range (4,500 feet elevation)"

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Beddome's Black Earth Snake

Is the Beddome's Black Earth Snake venomous?: No. The Beddome's Black Earth Snake (Melanophidium punctatum) 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 Beddome's Black Earth Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Beddome's Black Earth Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Beddome's Black Earth Snake dangerous?: The Beddome's Black Earth Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Beddome's Black Earth Snake live?: The Beddome's Black Earth Snake has verified records in 1 country, including India. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

India

More Uropeltidae 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: Uropeltidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Melanophidium
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Melanophidium punctatum

Keep learning

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