Cope's Vine Snake

About the Cope's Vine Snake

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Cope's Vine Snake

Is the Cope's Vine Snake venomous?

The Cope's Vine Snake (Oxybelis brevirostris) is rear-fanged and only mildly venomous. It is not considered dangerous to humans (its venom is weak and its fangs sit at the back of the mouth) but a bite can cause local swelling or irritation, so it should not be handled.

Is the Cope's Vine Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Cope's Vine Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Cope's Vine Snake dangerous?

The Cope's Vine Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Cope's Vine Snake live?

The Cope's Vine Snake has verified records in 8 countries, including Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

More Colubridae snakes

• 
  Green Vine Snake
  Oxybelis fulgidus
• 
  Köhler’s Vine Snake
  Oxybelis koehleri
• 
  Thornscrub Vine Snake
  Oxybelis microphthalmus
• 
  Brown Vinesnake
  Oxybelis aeneus
• 
  Rutherford's Vine Snake
  Oxybelis rutherfordi
• 
  Gulf Coast Vine Snake
  Oxybelis potosiensis
• 
  Striped Vine Snake
  Oxybelis vittatus
• 
  Oxybelis transandinus
  Oxybelis transandinus

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

Oxybelis

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

Oxybelis brevirostris

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.