Is the Blandings Tree Snake venomous?

No. The Blandings Tree Snake (Toxicodryas blandingii) 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 Blandings Tree Snake poisonous?

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

Is the Blandings Tree Snake dangerous?

The Blandings Tree Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Blandings Tree Snake live?

The Blandings Tree Snake has verified records in 26 countries, including Benin, Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Cameroon. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Colubridae

Blandings Tree Snake

Harmless

Toxicodryas blandingii

Blandings Tree Snake — Toxicodryas blandingii, © Valentin Moser

6 photographs of the Blandings Tree Snake. © Valentin Moser.

The Blandings Tree Snake (Toxicodryas blandingii) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 26 countries.

Family: Colubridae

About the Blandings Tree Snake

Toxicodryas blandingii, commonly known as Blanding's cat snake and Blanding's tree snake, is a species of rear-fanged venomous snake of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Etymology

The specific name, blandingii, is in honor of William Blanding (1772–1857), an American physician and naturalist.

Geographic range

T. blandingii is found in Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitats of T. blandingii are forest and savanna, at altitudes from sea level to 2,200 m (7,200 ft). However, it is also found in gardens, parks, and in and around houses.

Description

T. blandingii is a long and slender species. The longest specimen measured by Boulenger (1896) had a total length of 2.2 m (7.2 ft), including a tail 0.5 m (1.6 ft) long.

Diet

T. blandingii preys upon lizards including dwarf chameleons, small mammals including bats, and birds.

Reproduction

T. blandingii is oviparous. Clutch size is 7–14 eggs.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Blandings Tree Snake

Is the Blandings Tree Snake venomous?: No. The Blandings Tree Snake (Toxicodryas blandingii) 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 Blandings Tree Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Blandings Tree Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Blandings Tree Snake dangerous?: The Blandings Tree Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Blandings Tree Snake live?: The Blandings Tree Snake has verified records in 26 countries, including Benin, Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Cameroon. See the distribution section below for its full range.
What does the Blandings Tree Snake eat?: T. blandingii preys upon lizards including dwarf chameleons, small mammals including bats, and birds.
Why is it called the Blandings Tree Snake?: The specific name, blandingii, is in honor of William Blanding (1772–1857), an American physician and naturalist.

More Colubridae 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: Colubridae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Toxicodryas
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Toxicodryas blandingii

Keep learning

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