Colubridae
False Tree Coral
HarmlessRhinobothryum bovallii
5 photographs of the False Tree Coral. © Sylvain Eichhorn.
The False Tree Coral (Rhinobothryum bovallii) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 8 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the False Tree Coral
Rhinobothryum bovallii, commonly known as the coral mimic snake or the false tree coral, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to Central America and northwestern South America.
Etymology
The specific name, bovallii, is in honor of Swedish biologist Carl Bovallius.
Geographic range
R. bovallii is found in Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of R. bovallii is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 900 m (3,000 ft).
Reproduction
R. bovallii is oviparous.
Mimicry
R. bovallii mimics two sympatric species of venomous snakes, Micrurus alleni and Micrurus nigrocinctus.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: False Tree Coral
- Is the False Tree Coral venomous?
- No. The False Tree Coral (Rhinobothryum bovallii) 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 False Tree Coral poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The False Tree Coral is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the False Tree Coral dangerous?
- The False Tree Coral is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the False Tree Coral live?
- The False Tree Coral has verified records in 8 countries, including Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the False Tree Coral?
- The specific name, bovallii, is in honor of Swedish biologist Carl Bovallius.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Amazon Banded SnakeRhinobothryum lentiginosum
Common Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis
Common WatersnakeNerodia sipedon
Gopher SnakePituophis catenifer
DeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi
North American RacerColuber constrictor
Ring-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus
Western Terrestrial Garter SnakeThamnophis elegans
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
- Rhinobothryum
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Rhinobothryum bovallii
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.