Is the Dull Bamboo Snake venomous?

No. The Dull Bamboo Snake (Pseudoxenodon inornatus) 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 Dull Bamboo Snake poisonous?

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

Is the Dull Bamboo Snake dangerous?

The Dull Bamboo Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Dull Bamboo Snake live?

The Dull Bamboo Snake has verified records in 3 countries, including Indonesia, China, Viet Nam. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Colubridae

Dull Bamboo Snake

Harmless

Pseudoxenodon inornatus

2 photographs of the Dull Bamboo Snake. © Firman.

The Dull Bamboo Snake (Pseudoxenodon inornatus) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 3 countries.

Family: Colubridae

About the Dull Bamboo Snake

The dull bamboo snake (Pseudoxenodon inornatus), also known commonly as the Javanese false cobra, is a species of snake in the subfamily Pseudoxenodontidae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Indonesia. There are three recognized subspecies.

Habitat

P. inornatus lives in bamboo and wet montane forests.

Description

P. inornatus may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 40 cm (16 in), plus a tail length of 7 cm (2.8 in). Its dorsal scales are arranged in 19 rows. It can spread its neck similar to a cobra.

Reproduction

P. inornatus is oviparous.

Subspecies

The following three subspecies, including the nominotypical subspecies, are recognized as being valid.

Pseudoxenodon inornatus inornatus (F. Boie, 1827)

Pseudoxenodon inornatus buettikoferi Brongersma & Helle, 1951

Pseudoxenodon inornatus jacobsonii Lidth De Jeude, 1922

Etymology

The subspecific name, jacobsonii, is in honor of Dutch naturalist Edward Richard Jacobson (1870–1944).

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Dull Bamboo Snake

Is the Dull Bamboo Snake venomous?: No. The Dull Bamboo Snake (Pseudoxenodon inornatus) 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 Dull Bamboo Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Dull Bamboo Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Dull Bamboo Snake dangerous?: The Dull Bamboo Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Dull Bamboo Snake live?: The Dull Bamboo Snake has verified records in 3 countries, including Indonesia, China, Viet Nam. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Why is it called the Dull Bamboo Snake?: The subspecific name, jacobsonii, is in honor of Dutch naturalist Edward Richard Jacobson (1870–1944).

Where it is found

Indonesia China Viet Nam

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

Keep learning

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