Colubridae
Erythrolamprus cobella
HarmlessThis species has no widely used English common name.
6 photographs of the Erythrolamprus cobella. © Soetjipto Verkuijl.
Erythrolamprus cobella is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 18 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Erythrolamprus cobella
Erythrolamprus cobella, commonly known as the mangrove snake, is a species of small semi-aquatic snake, which is endemic to South America.
Classification
Erythrolamprus cobella belongs to the genus Erythrolamprus, which contains over 50 species. The genus Erythrolamprus belongs to the subfamily Dipsadinae, which is sometimes referred to as the family Dipsadidae. The relationships of Erythrolamprus species located in northern South America (Venezuela) can be shown in the cladogram below, based on molecular DNA analysis:
Description
Adults may attain a total length of 73 cm (29 in), which includes a tail 12.5 cm (4.9 in) long.
Dorsally, it is black or dark brown with white crossbands. Ventrally it is red with black crossbands. The upper labials are white or yellowish.
There are 8 upper labials, the 4th and 5th entering the eye. The dorsal scales, which are smooth and without apical pits, are arranged in 17 rows at midbody. Ventrals 143–163; anal plate divided; subcaudals 45–57, also divided (in two rows).
Geographic range
It is found in northern South America east of the Andes, in the Guianas, eastern Venezuela, and Trinidad and Tobago (although only on the island of Trinidad, not Tobago.)
Habitat
It is a semi-aquatic species, and lives in lowland rainforest river floodplains and coastal mangrove swamps.
Diet
It feeds on frogs, geckos, and fish.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Erythrolamprus cobella
- Is the Erythrolamprus cobella venomous?
- No. The Erythrolamprus cobella 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 Erythrolamprus cobella poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Erythrolamprus cobella is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Erythrolamprus cobella dangerous?
- The Erythrolamprus cobella is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Erythrolamprus cobella live?
- The Erythrolamprus cobella has verified records in 18 countries, including Brazil, Suriname, French Guiana. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Erythrolamprus cobella eat?
- It feeds on frogs, geckos, and fish.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Yellow-bellied LiophisErythrolamprus poecilogyrus
Military Ground SnakeErythrolamprus miliaris
Fire-bellied SnakeErythrolamprus epinephalus
Black-backed SnakeErythrolamprus melanotus
Aesculapian False Coral SnakeErythrolamprus aesculapii
Double-banded Coral Snake MimicErythrolamprus bizona
Royal Ground SnakeErythrolamprus reginae
Velvet SwampsnakeErythrolamprus typhlus
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
- Erythrolamprus
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Erythrolamprus cobella
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.