Colubridae
Drummond-Hay's Rough-sided Snake
HarmlessAspidura drummondhayi

The Drummond-Hay's Rough-sided Snake (Aspidura drummondhayi) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Drummond-Hay's Rough-sided Snake
Aspidura drummondhayi, commonly known as Drummond-Hay's rough-sided snake or කෙටිවල් මැඩිල්ලා in Sinhala, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Sri Lanka.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Drummond-Hay's Rough-sided Snake
- Is the Drummond-Hay's Rough-sided Snake venomous?
- No. The Drummond-Hay's Rough-sided Snake (Aspidura drummondhayi) 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 Drummond-Hay'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 Drummond-Hay's Rough-sided Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Drummond-Hay's Rough-sided Snake dangerous?
- The Drummond-Hay'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 Drummond-Hay's Rough-sided Snake live?
- The Drummond-Hay's Rough-sided Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Sri Lanka. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Common Rough-sided SnakeAspidura trachyprocta
Boie's Rough-sided SnakeAspidura brachyorrhos
Günther's Rough-sided SnakeAspidura guentheri
Ceylon KeelbackAspidura ceylonensis
Ravana's Rough-sided SnakeAspidura ravanai
De Silva's Rough-sided SnakeAspidura desilvai
Cope's Rough-sided SnakeAspidura copei- No photoSri Lanka Rough-sided SnakeAspidura 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 drummondhayi
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.