Colubridae
Confusing Egg Eater
HarmlessDasypeltis confusa




4 photographs of the Confusing Egg Eater. © Robert Taylor.
The Confusing Egg Eater (Dasypeltis confusa) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 21 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Confusing Egg Eater
Dasypeltis confusa, commonly known as the confusing egg-eater or the diamond-back egg-eater, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Africa.
Geographic range
D. confusa is found in Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Togo, and Uganda.
Habitat
The preferred habitat of D. confusa is savanna at altitudes of 500–1,200 m (1,600–3,900 ft).
Reproduction
D. confusa is oviparous.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Confusing Egg Eater
- Is the Confusing Egg Eater venomous?
- No. The Confusing Egg Eater (Dasypeltis confusa) 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 Confusing Egg Eater poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Confusing Egg Eater is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Confusing Egg Eater dangerous?
- The Confusing Egg Eater is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Confusing Egg Eater live?
- The Confusing Egg Eater has verified records in 21 countries, including Central African Republic, Ghana, Senegal. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Egg-eating SnakeDasypeltis scabra
Southern Brown Egg EaterDasypeltis inornata
East African Egg EaterDasypeltis medici
Sahel Egg EaterDasypeltis sahelensis
Montane Egg-eaterDasypeltis atra
Central African Egg-eating SnakeDasypeltis fasciata
Gans’ Egg EaterDasypeltis gansi
Dasypeltis parascabraDasypeltis parascabra
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
- Dasypeltis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Dasypeltis confusa
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.