Colubridae
Dunn's Road Guarder
HarmlessCrisantophis nevermanni
2 photographs of the Dunn's Road Guarder. © Anthony Mora Aguilar.
The Dunn's Road Guarder (Crisantophis nevermanni) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 4 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Dunn's Road Guarder
Dunn's road guarder (Crisantophis nevermanni) is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species, which is monotypic in the genus Crisantophis, is native to Central America.
Geographic distribution
Crisantophis nevermanni is found in northwestern Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, western Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of Crisantophis nevermanni is forest, at altitudes of 4–1,385 m (13–4,544 ft).
Behavior
Crisantophis nevermanni is terrestrial and diurnal.
Diet
Crisantophis nevermanni preys predominately upon frogs and lizards.
Reproduction
Crisantophis nevermanni is oviparous.
Etymology
The generic name, Crisantophis, is in honor of Miss Crisanta Cháves, who was director of the Museo Nacional de Nicaragua for over 50 years.
The specific name, nevermanni, is in honor of German coleopterist Wilhelm Heinrich Ferdinand Nevermann (1881–1938).
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Dunn's Road Guarder
- Is the Dunn's Road Guarder venomous?
- No. The Dunn's Road Guarder (Crisantophis nevermanni) 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 Dunn's Road Guarder poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Dunn's Road Guarder is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Dunn's Road Guarder dangerous?
- The Dunn's Road Guarder is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Dunn's Road Guarder live?
- The Dunn's Road Guarder has verified records in 4 countries, including Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Dunn's Road Guarder eat?
- Crisantophis nevermanni preys predominately upon frogs and lizards.
- Why is it called the Dunn's Road Guarder?
- The generic name, Crisantophis, is in honor of Miss Crisanta Cháves, who was director of the Museo Nacional de Nicaragua for over 50 years. The specific name, nevermanni, is in honor of German coleopterist Wilhelm Heinrich Ferdinand Nevermann (1881–1938).
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
- Crisantophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Crisantophis nevermanni
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.