Colubridae
Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake
HarmlessStenorrhina degenhardtii
5 photographs of the Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake. © Raúl A. Ruiz M..
The Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake (Stenorrhina degenhardtii) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 12 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake
Stenorrhina degenhardtii, also known by its common name Degenhardt's scorpion-eating snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to southeastern Mexico, Central America, and northwestern South America. There are three recognized subspecies.
Etymology
The specific name, degenhardtii, is in honor of a German named Degenhardt who collected amphibians and reptiles in northern South America in the 1840s.
Geographic range
S. degenhardtii is found in the Mexican states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Veracruz; in the Central American countries of Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama; and in the South American countries of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of S. degenhardti are forest and savanna, at altitudes from sea level to 2,800 m (9,200 ft), but it has also been found in agricultural areas.
Description
A medium-sized snake, S. degenhardtii may attain a total length (including tail) of 65 cm (26 in).
Behavior
S. degenhardtii is diurnal and terrestrial.
Diet
S. degenhardtii preys predominately upon scorpions and spiders, but also eats crickets, grasshoppers, and insect larvae.
Reproduction
S. degenhardtii is oviparous. Clutch size is 11–12 eggs.
Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Stenorrhina degenhardtii degenhardtii (Berthold, 1846)
Stenorrhina degenhardtii mexicana (Steindachner, 1867)
Stenorrhina degenhardtii ocellata Jan & Sordelli, 1876
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake
- Is the Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake venomous?
- No. The Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake (Stenorrhina degenhardtii) 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 Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake dangerous?
- The Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake live?
- The Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake has verified records in 12 countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Panama. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake eat?
- S. degenhardtii preys predominately upon scorpions and spiders, but also eats crickets, grasshoppers, and insect larvae.
- Why is it called the Degenhardt's Scorpion-eating Snake?
- The specific name, degenhardtii, is in honor of a German named Degenhardt who collected amphibians and reptiles in northern South America in the 1840s.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
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
- Stenorrhina
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Stenorrhina degenhardtii
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.