Cream-spotted Mountain Snake

About the Cream-spotted Mountain Snake

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Cream-spotted Mountain Snake

Is the Cream-spotted Mountain Snake venomous?

No. The Cream-spotted Mountain Snake (Montaspis gilvomaculata) 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 Cream-spotted Mountain Snake poisonous?

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

Is the Cream-spotted Mountain Snake dangerous?

The Cream-spotted Mountain Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Cream-spotted Mountain Snake live?

The Cream-spotted Mountain Snake has verified records in 1 country, including South Africa. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

More Lamprophiidae snakes

• 
  Cape House Snake
  Boaedon capensis
• 
  Common Brown Water Snake
  Lycodonomorphus rufulus
• 
  Cape Wolf Snake
  Lycophidion capense
• 
  Aurora House Snake
  Lamprophis aurora
• 
  Brown House Snake
  Boaedon fuliginosus
• 
  Black File Snake
  Gracililima nyassae
• 
  Bug-Eyed House Snake
  Boaedon mentalis
• 
  Cape File Snake
  Limaformosa capensis

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

Lamprophiidae

GenusA close-knit group of very similar species

Montaspis

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

Montaspis gilvomaculata

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.