Is the Deuve's Water Snake venomous?

No. The Deuve's Water Snake (Homalopsis nigroventralis) 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 Deuve's Water Snake poisonous?

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

Is the Deuve's Water Snake dangerous?

The Deuve's Water Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Deuve's Water Snake live?

The Deuve's Water Snake has verified records in 4 countries, including Thailand, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Cambodia. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Homalopsidae

Deuve's Water Snake

Harmless

Homalopsis nigroventralis

Deuve's Water Snake — Homalopsis nigroventralis, © Ian Dugdale

6 photographs of the Deuve's Water Snake. © Ian Dugdale.

The Deuve's Water Snake (Homalopsis nigroventralis) is a non-venomous snake in the Homalopsidae family, recorded in 4 countries.

Family: Homalopsidae

About the Deuve's Water Snake

The Deuve's Water Snake belongs to the Homalopsidae family, mud & water snakes. Aquatic, mud-dwelling snakes with upward-facing eyes and nostrils.

Homalopsids are aquatic and semi-aquatic snakes of muddy waters, with valved nostrils and eyes set high on the head for life at the surface. Many are rear-fanged. They feed on fish, frogs, and crustaceans.

Its genus, Homalopsis, covers puff-faced water snakes. Thick-bodied Southeast Asian water snakes built for hunting fish and frogs in muddy, slow-moving water.

The Deuve's Water Snake is non-venomous and harmless to people. Like most snakes it is a quiet predator that helps keep rodents and other small prey in check.

It has been recorded in Thailand, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Cambodia and Viet Nam.

Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.

Frequently asked: Deuve's Water Snake

Is the Deuve's Water Snake venomous?: No. The Deuve's Water Snake (Homalopsis nigroventralis) 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 Deuve's Water Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Deuve's Water Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Deuve's Water Snake dangerous?: The Deuve's Water Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Deuve's Water Snake live?: The Deuve's Water Snake has verified records in 4 countries, including Thailand, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Cambodia. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

Thailand Lao People’s Democratic Republic Cambodia Viet Nam

More Homalopsidae 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: Homalopsidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Homalopsis
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Homalopsis nigroventralis

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.