Lamprophiidae
Brown House Snake
HarmlessBoaedon fuliginosus
6 photographs of the Brown House Snake. © Sara Navarro.
The Brown House Snake (Boaedon fuliginosus) is a non-venomous snake in the Lamprophiidae family, recorded in 40 countries.
- Family
- Lamprophiidae
About the Brown House Snake
The African house snake (Boaedon fuliginosus) is a species of snake of the family Lamprophiidae. Harmless to humans, it is widely kept and bred in captivity as a pet by herpetoculturists due to its small size, placid demeanor and easy care requirements.
Geographic range
The snake is found in Africa, mainly preferring relatively drier areas as habitat.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Brown House Snake
- Is the Brown House Snake venomous?
- No. The Brown House Snake (Boaedon fuliginosus) 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 Brown House Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Brown House Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Brown House Snake dangerous?
- The Brown House Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Brown House Snake live?
- The Brown House Snake has verified records in 40 countries, including Tanzania, United Republic of, Kenya, Zambia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Lamprophiidae 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
- Lamprophiidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Boaedon
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Boaedon fuliginosus
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.