Colubridae
Big-eyed Bamboo Snake
HarmlessPseudoxenodon macrops





5 photographs of the Big-eyed Bamboo Snake. © Jigu.
The Big-eyed Bamboo Snake (Pseudoxenodon macrops) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 11 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Big-eyed Bamboo Snake
Pseudoxenodon macrops, commonly known as the large-eyed bamboo snake or the big-eyed bamboo snake, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake endemic to Asia.
Description
P. macrops is a fairly variable species with brownish and almost blackish shades with short crossbars.
Diet
P. macrops preys on frogs and lizards.
Venom
P. macrops is a mildly venomous species. However, the potency of its venom is currently unknown.
Reproduction
P. macrops is an oviparous species. An adult female may lay as many as 10 eggs.
Subspecies
There are three known subspecies including, the nominotypical subspecies.
Pseudoxenodon macrops fukiensis Pope, 1928
Pseudoxenodon macrops macrops (Blyth, 1855)
Pseudoxenodon macrops sinensis Boulenger, 1904
Nota bene: A binomial authority or a trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Pseodoxenodon.
Geographic range
P. macrops is found in Northeast India (Darjeeling, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram), Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, West Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, SW China (Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Fujian, Sichuan, Guizhou ?, Gansu). It is also found in Sylhet region of Bangladesh.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Big-eyed Bamboo Snake
- Is the Big-eyed Bamboo Snake venomous?
- No. The Big-eyed Bamboo Snake (Pseudoxenodon macrops) 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 Big-eyed Bamboo Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Big-eyed Bamboo Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Big-eyed Bamboo Snake dangerous?
- The Big-eyed Bamboo Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Big-eyed Bamboo Snake live?
- The Big-eyed Bamboo Snake has verified records in 11 countries, including China, Viet Nam, India. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Big-eyed Bamboo Snake eat?
- P. macrops preys on frogs and lizards.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Stejneger's Bamboo SnakePseudoxenodon stejnegeri
Bamboo SnakePseudoxenodon bambusicola
Chinese Bamboo SnakePseudoxenodon karlschmidti
Dull Bamboo SnakePseudoxenodon inornatus
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
- Pseudoxenodon
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Pseudoxenodon macrops
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.