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Colubridae

Española Racer

Harmless

Pseudalsophis hoodensis

Española Racer
Pseudalsophis hoodensis, © Rosie Yacoub
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6 photographs of the Española Racer. © Rosie Yacoub.

The Española Racer (Pseudalsophis hoodensis) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.

Family
Colubridae

About the Española Racer

Pseudalsophis hoodensis, otherwise known as the Espanola racer, is a species of snake of the family Colubridae.

Etymolotgy

The word "hoodensis" is derived from the word Hood, which is another name for Española Island.

Geographic range

The snake is endemic to Española Island in the Galápagos Islands.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Española Racer

Is the Española Racer venomous?
No. The Española Racer (Pseudalsophis hoodensis) 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 Española Racer poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Española Racer is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Española Racer dangerous?
The Española Racer is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Española Racer live?
The Española Racer has verified records in 1 country, including Ecuador. See the distribution section below for its full range.

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
Pseudalsophis
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
Pseudalsophis hoodensis

Keep learning

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