Colubridae
Dalat Dwarf Snake
HarmlessCalamaria buchi



3 photographs of the Dalat Dwarf Snake. (c) Tien Nguyen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Dalat Dwarf Snake (Calamaria buchi) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Dalat Dwarf Snake
Calamaria buchi, also known commonly as Buch's reed snake and the Dalat dwarf snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Calamariinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Vietnam.
Etymology
The specific name, buchi, is in honor of French missionary Father Buch who collected the holotype.
Description
The diameter of the eye of Calamaria buchi is equal to the distance from the eye to the mouth. The frontal is twice as wide as a supraocular. There is a preocular present. There are four upper labials, the second and third contacting the eye. The holotype, a female, has 221 ventrals.
Geographic distribution
Calamaria buchi is found in Lam Dong Province and Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of Calamaria buchi is forest, at elevations from sea level to 500 m (1,600 ft).
Behavior
Calamaria buchi is terrestrial, fossorial, and nocturnal.
Reproduction
Calamaria buchi is oviparous.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Dalat Dwarf Snake
- Is the Dalat Dwarf Snake venomous?
- No. The Dalat Dwarf Snake (Calamaria buchi) 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 Dalat Dwarf Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Dalat Dwarf Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Dalat Dwarf Snake dangerous?
- The Dalat Dwarf Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Why is it called the Dalat Dwarf Snake?
- The specific name, buchi, is in honor of French missionary Father Buch who collected the holotype.
More Colubridae snakes
Pink-headed Reed SnakeCalamaria schlegeli
Collared Reed SnakeCalamaria pavimentata
Northern Reed SnakeCalamaria septentrionalis
Variable Reed SnakeCalamaria lumbricoidea
Schmidt's Reed SnakeCalamaria schmidti
Gervais' Worm SnakeCalamaria gervaisii
Lined Reed SnakeCalamaria griswoldi
Linne's Dwarf SnakeCalamaria linnaei
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
- Calamaria
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Calamaria buchi
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.