Copperhead Rat Snake

About the Copperhead Rat Snake

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Copperhead Rat Snake

Is the Copperhead Rat Snake venomous?

No. The Copperhead Rat Snake (Coelognathus radiatus) 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 Copperhead Rat Snake poisonous?

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

Is the Copperhead Rat Snake dangerous?

The Copperhead Rat Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Copperhead Rat Snake live?

The Copperhead Rat Snake has verified records in 18 countries, including Thailand, Viet Nam, Indonesia. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Why is it called the Copperhead Rat Snake?

German: Strahlennatter English: Copperhead racer Copperhead rat snake Radiated rat snake Copper-headed trinket snake Thai: งูทางมะพร้าว, ngu taang mapao Myanmar: ငန်းစောင်း Laos:ງູສາ Malay: Ular Rusuk Kerbau Bengali (Bangladesh): দুধরাজ (Dudhraj), আরবালি সাপ (Arbali sap) Vietnamese: rắn sọc dưa, rắn hổ ngựa

Where it is found

More Colubridae snakes

• 
  Trinket Snake
  Coelognathus helena
• 
  Black Copper Rat Snake
  Coelognathus flavolineatus
• 
  Reddish Rat Snake
  Coelognathus erythrurus
• 
  Sunda Rat Snake
  Coelognathus subradiatus
• 
  Palawan rat snake
  Coelognathus philippinus
• 
  Enggano Rat Snake
  Coelognathus enganensis
• 
  Common Garter Snake
  Thamnophis sirtalis
• 
  Common Watersnake
  Nerodia 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

Coelognathus

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

Coelognathus radiatus

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.