Central American Lizard Eater

About the Central American Lizard Eater

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Central American Lizard Eater

Is the Central American Lizard Eater venomous?

No. The Central American Lizard Eater (Mastigodryas alternatus) 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 Central American Lizard Eater poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Central American Lizard Eater is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Central American Lizard Eater dangerous?

The Central American Lizard Eater is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

More Colubridae snakes

• 
  Salmon-bellied Racer
  Mastigodryas melanolomus
• 
  Boddaert's Tropical Racer
  Mastigodryas boddaerti
• 
  Plee's Tropical Racer
  Mastigodryas pleii
• 
  Daniel's Tropical Racer
  Mastigodryas danieli
• 
  Cope's Tropical Racer
  Mastigodryas pulchriceps
• 
  Mastigodryas reticulatus
  Mastigodryas reticulatus
• 
  Striped Lizard Eater
  Mastigodryas dorsalis
• 
  Clifton’s Lizard Eater
  Mastigodryas cliftoni

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

Mastigodryas

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

Mastigodryas alternatus

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.