De Silva's Rough-sided Snake

About the De Silva's Rough-sided Snake

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: De Silva's Rough-sided Snake

Is the De Silva's Rough-sided Snake venomous?

No. The De Silva's Rough-sided Snake (Aspidura desilvai) 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 De Silva's Rough-sided Snake poisonous?

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

Is the De Silva's Rough-sided Snake dangerous?

The De Silva's Rough-sided Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the De Silva's Rough-sided Snake live?

The De Silva's Rough-sided Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Sri Lanka. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Why is it called the De Silva's Rough-sided Snake?

The specific name, desilvai, is in honor of Pilippu Hewa Don Hemasiri de Silva, the former director of the National Museums of Sri Lanka from 1965 to 1981 and also the author of the book Snake Fauna of Sri Lanka: with special reference to skull, dentition and venom in snakes.

Where it is found

More Colubridae snakes

• 
  Common Rough-sided Snake
  Aspidura trachyprocta
• 
  Boie's Rough-sided Snake
  Aspidura brachyorrhos
• 
  Günther's Rough-sided Snake
  Aspidura guentheri
• 
  Ceylon Keelback
  Aspidura ceylonensis
• 
  Ravana's Rough-sided Snake
  Aspidura ravanai
• 
  Cope's Rough-sided Snake
  Aspidura copei
• 
  Drummond-Hay's Rough-sided Snake
  Aspidura drummondhayi
• No photo
  Sri Lanka Rough-sided Snake
  Aspidura deraniyagalae

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

Aspidura

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

Aspidura desilvai

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.