Colubridae
Forest Sharp-tailed Snake
HarmlessContia longicauda
6 photographs of the Forest Sharp-tailed Snake. © Parsa Fard.
The Forest Sharp-tailed Snake (Contia longicauda) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Forest Sharp-tailed Snake
The forest sharp-tailed snake (Contia longicaudae) is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the western coast of the United States.
Geographic range
C. longicaudae is found in northern California and southern Oregon.
Distribution and habitat
The forest sharp-tailed snake is not as widespread as its relative Contia tenuis (the sharp-tailed snake). The forest sharp-tailed snake is found in shaded wet forests along the western coast of the United States. The forest sharp-tailed snake went unnoticed for a long time due to its vast similarities to C. tenuis, the secretive nature of both species of sharp-tailed snakes, and their seasonally limited amount of activity.
Identification
The easiest way to set the two species apart is by looking at the tail length and the subcaudal scales. The forest sharp-tailed snake has a longer tail than Contia tenuis and more subcaudal scales. Specifically, the forest sharp-tailed snake has 43 to 58 subcaudal scales, whereas Contia tenuis has 24 to 42.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Forest Sharp-tailed Snake
- Is the Forest Sharp-tailed Snake venomous?
- No. The Forest Sharp-tailed Snake (Contia longicauda) 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 Forest Sharp-tailed Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Forest Sharp-tailed Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Forest Sharp-tailed Snake dangerous?
- The Forest Sharp-tailed Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Forest Sharp-tailed Snake live?
- The Forest Sharp-tailed Snake has verified records in 1 country, including United States of America. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
By U.S. state
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
- Contia
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Contia longicauda
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.