Colubridae
Central American Tree Snake
HarmlessImantodes gemmistratus




4 photographs of the Central American Tree Snake. © Francisco Farriols Sarabia.
The Central American Tree Snake (Imantodes gemmistratus) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Central American Tree Snake
Imantodes gemmistratus, the Central American tree snake, is a snake species in the colubrid family, found from Mexico, through Central America and Colombia.
Distribution
Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and possibly in Belize.
Subspecies
The following subspecies are recognized:
Imantodes gemmistratus gemmistratus (Cope, 1861)
Imantodes gemmistratus gracillimus (Günther, 1895)
Imantodes gemmistratus latistratus (Cope, 1887)
Imantodes gemmistratus luciodorsus Oliver, 1942
Imantodes gemmistratus oliveri Smith, 1942
Imantodes gemmistratus reticulatus (Müller, 1882)
Imantodes gemmistratus splendidus (Günther, 1895)
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Central American Tree Snake
- Is the Central American Tree Snake venomous?
- No. The Central American Tree Snake (Imantodes gemmistratus) 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 Tree Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Central American Tree Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Central American Tree Snake dangerous?
- The Central American Tree Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
More Colubridae snakes
Common Blunt-headed Tree SnakeImantodes cenchoa
Yellow Blunt-headed Tree SnakeImantodes inornatus
Amazon Basin Tree SnakeImantodes lentiferus
Yucatán Blunt-headed Tree SnakeImantodes tenuissimus
Chocoan Blunt-headed Tree SnakeImantodes chocoensis
Phantasma Tree SnakeImantodes phantasma
Common Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis
Common WatersnakeNerodia sipedon
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
- Imantodes
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Imantodes gemmistratus
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.