Is the Bennett's Mud Snake venomous?

No. The Bennett's Mud Snake (Myrrophis bennettii) 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 Bennett's Mud Snake poisonous?

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

Is the Bennett's Mud Snake dangerous?

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

Where does the Bennett's Mud Snake live?

The Bennett's Mud Snake has verified records in 4 countries, including China, Viet Nam, Hong Kong. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Homalopsidae

Bennett's Mud Snake

Harmless

Myrrophis bennettii

Bennett's Mud Snake — Myrrophis bennettii, (c) Lawrence Hylton, some rights reserved (CC BY)

3 photographs of the Bennett's Mud Snake. (c) Lawrence Hylton, some rights reserved (CC BY).

The Bennett's Mud Snake (Myrrophis bennettii) is a non-venomous snake in the Homalopsidae family, recorded in 4 countries.

Family: Homalopsidae

About the Bennett's Mud Snake

The Bennett's Mud Snake belongs to the Homalopsidae family, mud & water snakes. Aquatic, mud-dwelling snakes with upward-facing eyes and nostrils.

Homalopsids are aquatic and semi-aquatic snakes of muddy waters, with valved nostrils and eyes set high on the head for life at the surface. Many are rear-fanged. They feed on fish, frogs, and crustaceans.

Its genus, Myrrophis, covers Asian water snakes. Mildly venomous, rear-fanged mud and water snakes of East and Southeast Asian wetlands, harmless to people but built entirely for life in the water.

The Bennett's Mud Snake is non-venomous and harmless to people. Like most snakes it is a quiet predator that helps keep rodents and other small prey in check.

It has been recorded in China, Viet Nam, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.

Frequently asked: Bennett's Mud Snake

Is the Bennett's Mud Snake venomous?: No. The Bennett's Mud Snake (Myrrophis bennettii) 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 Bennett's Mud Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Bennett's Mud Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Bennett's Mud Snake dangerous?: The Bennett's Mud Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Bennett's Mud Snake live?: The Bennett's Mud Snake has verified records in 4 countries, including China, Viet Nam, Hong Kong. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

China Viet Nam Hong Kong Indonesia

More Homalopsidae 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: Homalopsidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Myrrophis
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Myrrophis bennettii

Keep learning

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