Atractaspididae
Black Centipede-Eater
HarmlessAparallactus guentheri
3 photographs of the Black Centipede-Eater. © Carrie Seltzer.
The Black Centipede-Eater (Aparallactus guentheri) is a non-venomous snake in the Atractaspididae family, recorded in 6 countries.
- Family
- Atractaspididae
- Danger
- high
About the Black Centipede-Eater
Aparallactus guentheri, or the black centipede-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. The species is endemic to Africa.
Etymology
The specific epithet, guentheri, is in honor of German-British herpetologist Albert Günther, who preceded George Albert Boulenger at the British Museum (Natural History).
Distribution
A. guentheri is found in Angola, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania (including Zanzibar), Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Description
A. guentheri is blackish brown dorsally, a little lighter ventrally. The chin and throat are yellowish white. It has a deep black collar, edged with yellowish white in front and behind, narrowly interrupted on the throat.
Adults may attain a total length of 33 cm (13 in), with a tail 8 cm (3+1⁄8 in) long.
The portion of the rostral visible from above is nearly half as long as its distance from the frontal. The frontal is 1½ times as long as broad, much longer than its distance from the end of the snout, a little shorter than the parietals. The nasal is divided, in contact with the preocular. There is one postocular. There are seven upper labials, the third and fourth entering the eye, the fifth in contact with the parietal. The mental is in contact with the anterior chin shields, which are as long as and a little broader than the posterior chin shields. The anterior chin shields are in contact with four lower labials.
The dorsal scales are smooth, without pits, in 15 rows. The anal is entire. The subcaudals number 51–59, and are entire (undivided).
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Black Centipede-Eater
- Is the Black Centipede-Eater venomous?
- No. The Black Centipede-Eater (Aparallactus guentheri) 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 Black Centipede-Eater poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Black Centipede-Eater is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Black Centipede-Eater dangerous?
- The Black Centipede-Eater is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Black Centipede-Eater live?
- The Black Centipede-Eater has verified records in 6 countries, including Tanzania, United Republic of, Zimbabwe, Kenya. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Black Centipede-Eater?
- The specific epithet, guentheri, is in honor of German-British herpetologist Albert Günther, who preceded George Albert Boulenger at the British Museum (Natural History).
Where it is found
More Atractaspididae snakes
Cape Centipede-EaterAparallactus capensis
Reticulated Centipede-EaterAparallactus lunulatus
Western Forest Centipede-eaterAparallactus modestus
Jackson’s centipede-eaterAparallactus jacksonii
Spotted Harlequin SnakeHomoroselaps lacteus
Southern Stiletto SnakeAtractaspis bibronii
Common Purple-glossed SnakeAmblyodipsas polylepis- No photoUsambara Centipede-eaterAparallactus werneri
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
- Atractaspididae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Aparallactus
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Aparallactus guentheri
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.