Homalopsidae
Bocourt's Water Snake
HarmlessSubsessor bocourti






6 photographs of the Bocourt's Water Snake. © James Hunt.
The Bocourt's Water Snake (Subsessor bocourti) is a non-venomous snake in the Homalopsidae family, recorded in 5 countries.
- Family
- Homalopsidae
About the Bocourt's Water Snake
Subsessor is a genus of snake in the family Homalopsidae. The genus is monotypic, containing the sole species Subsessor bocourti. The species is commonly known as Bocourt's mud snake or Bocourt's water snake and has traditionally been placed in the genus Enhydris.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Bocourt's Water Snake
- Is the Bocourt's Water Snake venomous?
- No. The Bocourt's Water Snake (Subsessor bocourti) 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 Bocourt's Water Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Bocourt's Water Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Bocourt's Water Snake dangerous?
- The Bocourt's Water Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Bocourt's Water Snake live?
- The Bocourt's Water Snake has verified records in 5 countries, including Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Homalopsidae snakes
Southeast Asian BockadamCerberus schneiderii
Puff-faced Water SnakeHomalopsis buccata
Rainbow Mud SnakeEnhydris enhydris
Murphy's Mud SnakeHypsiscopus murphyi
Rice Paddy SnakeHypsiscopus plumbeus
Chinese Water SnakeMyrrophis chinensis
Jack's Water SnakeHomalopsis mereljcoxi
White-bellied Mangrove SnakeFordonia leucobalia
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
- Subsessor
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Subsessor bocourti
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.