Pseudaspididae
Common Mock Viper
HarmlessPsammodynastes pulverulentus
6 photographs of the Common Mock Viper. © Davis Damaledo.
The Common Mock Viper (Psammodynastes pulverulentus) is a non-venomous snake in the Pseudaspididae family, recorded in 20 countries.
- Family
- Pseudaspididae
About the Common Mock Viper
Psammodynastes pulverulentus, the common mock viper, is a species of snake native to Asia.
It is a small snake (total length up to 65 cm (26 in), less in males), and it will form defensive coils and strike in a viper-like fashion when threatened, although it is harmless to humans.
Distribution
The common mock viper is known from Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, China (Fujian, Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong), north-eastern India (Assam, Sikkim, Darjeeling; Jalpaiguri; Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh), Bhutan, Indonesia (Bali, Bangka, Borneo, Butung, Enggano, Flores, Java, Kalimantan, Komodo, Lombok, Mentawai Archipelago, Natuna Archipelago, Padar, Riau Archipelago, Rinca, Sangihe Archipelago, Sulawesi, Sula Archipelago, Sumatra, Sumba, Sumbawa, Togian Archipelago), Laos, Malaysia (Malaya and East Malaysia, Pulau Tioman), Nepal, the Philippines (Balabac, Basilan, Bohol, Bongao, Busuanga, Dinagat, Jolo, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Negros, Palawan, Panay, Polillo, Samar), Taiwan, Thailand (incl. Phuket), and Vietnam. It has been reported from Singapore.
Subspecies Psammodynastes pulverulentus papenfussi is endemic to Taiwan.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Common Mock Viper
- Is the Common Mock Viper venomous?
- No. The Common Mock Viper (Psammodynastes pulverulentus) 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 Common Mock Viper poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Common Mock Viper is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Common Mock Viper dangerous?
- The Common Mock Viper is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Common Mock Viper live?
- The Common Mock Viper has verified records in 20 countries, including Chinese Taipei, Philippines, Hong Kong. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Pseudaspididae 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
- Pseudaspididae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Psammodynastes
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Psammodynastes pulverulentus
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.