Is the Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake venomous?

No. The Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake (Gonyosoma jansenii) 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 Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake dangerous?

The Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake live?

The Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake has verified records in 2 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Colubridae

Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake

Harmless

Gonyosoma jansenii

Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake — Gonyosoma jansenii, © Jean-Paul Boerekamps

6 photographs of the Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake. © Jean-Paul Boerekamps.

The Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake (Gonyosoma jansenii) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 countries.

Family: Colubridae

About the Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake

Gonyosoma jansenii, commonly known as the Celebes black-tailed rat snake, the Celebes ratsnake, and Jansen's rat snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

Etymology

The specific name, jansenii, is in honor of Albert Jacques Frédéric Jansen, who was an administrator in the Dutch East Indies.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of G. jansenii, is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).

Description

A long snake, G. jansenii may attain a total length of 199 cm (6.53 ft), which includes a tail length of 45 cm (1.48 ft). Adults are olive or yellowish brown on the anterior and middle portions of the body, with some scales black-edged. They are entirely black on the posterior portion of the body and tail (Boulenger, 1894).

Behavior

G. jansenii is semi-arboreal.

Reproduction

G. jansenii is oviparous.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake

Is the Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake venomous?: No. The Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake (Gonyosoma jansenii) 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 Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake dangerous?: The Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake live?: The Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake has verified records in 2 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Why is it called the Celebes Black-Tailed Ratsnake?: The specific name, jansenii, is in honor of Albert Jacques Frédéric Jansen, who was an administrator in the Dutch East Indies.

Where it is found

Indonesia Malaysia

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: Gonyosoma
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Gonyosoma jansenii

Keep learning

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