Colubridae
Erythrolamprus zweifeli
HarmlessThis species has no widely used English common name.
2 photographs of the Erythrolamprus zweifeli. © Nicholas.
Erythrolamprus zweifeli is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 3 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Erythrolamprus zweifeli
Erythrolamprus zweifeli, the braided ground snake or Zweifel's ground snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is found in Venezuela and Trinidad.
Classification
Erythrolamprus zweifeli 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.
Erythrolamprus zweifeli was previously considered to be a subspecies of Erythrolamprus reginae and called Erythrolamprus reginae zweifeli. However, based on notable differences in coloration and scale counts, it is now considered to be a separate species. This close relationship to Erythrolamprus reginae, as well as the relationships of Erythrolamprus species located in northern South America, can be shown in the cladogram below, based on molecular DNA analysis:
Description
Erythrolamprus zweifeli has either a salt-and-pepper dorsal pattern or a more uniform olive-green or olive-brown pattern, with a red or black belly. It has a black postocular stripe, and lacks apical pits in its scales.
Distribution
It lives in Venezuela and the island of Trinidad, within montane forests, often associated with stream-edges.
Diet
Erythrolamprus zweifeli likely hunts along forested stream-edges, feeding on Mannophryne stream frogs, hylid frogs, Leptodactylus validus (Windward ditch frog), salamanders, Ameiva lizards, and small birds.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Erythrolamprus zweifeli
- Is the Erythrolamprus zweifeli venomous?
- No. The Erythrolamprus zweifeli 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 zweifeli poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Erythrolamprus zweifeli is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Erythrolamprus zweifeli dangerous?
- The Erythrolamprus zweifeli is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Erythrolamprus zweifeli live?
- The Erythrolamprus zweifeli has verified records in 3 countries, including Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Trinidad and Tobago, French Guiana. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Erythrolamprus zweifeli eat?
- Erythrolamprus zweifeli likely hunts along forested stream-edges, feeding on Mannophryne stream frogs, hylid frogs, Leptodactylus validus (Windward ditch frog), salamanders, Ameiva lizards, and small birds.
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 zweifeli
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.