Colubridae
Cope's Forest Racer
HarmlessDendrophidion paucicarinatum


2 photographs of the Cope's Forest Racer. © Sam Eberhard.
The Cope's Forest Racer (Dendrophidion paucicarinatum) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Cope's Forest Racer
Dendrophidion paucicarinatum, commonly known as Cope's forest racer, is a snake of the colubrid family.
Diet
Cope's forest racers eat frogs.
Geographic distribution
The snake is found in Costa Rica and western Panama between altitudes of 1000 and 1600 meters.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Cope's Forest Racer
- Is the Cope's Forest Racer venomous?
- No. The Cope's Forest Racer (Dendrophidion paucicarinatum) 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 Cope's Forest Racer poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Cope's Forest Racer is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Cope's Forest Racer dangerous?
- The Cope's Forest Racer is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- What does the Cope's Forest Racer eat?
- Cope's forest racers eat frogs.
More Colubridae snakes
Barred Forest RacerDendrophidion percarinatum
Clark's Forest RacerDendrophidion clarkii
Olive Forest RacerDendrophidion dendrophis
Forest RacerDendrophidion bivittatus
Günther's Forest RacerDendrophidion brunneum
Cadle's Forest RacerDendrophidion graciliverpa
Dendrophidion apharocybeDendrophidion apharocybe
Dendrophidion prolixumDendrophidion prolixum
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
- Dendrophidion
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Dendrophidion paucicarinatum
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.