Godman's Graceful Brown Snake

About the Godman's Graceful Brown Snake

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Godman's Graceful Brown Snake

Is the Godman's Graceful Brown Snake venomous?

No. The Godman's Graceful Brown Snake (Rhadinella godmani) 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 Godman's Graceful Brown Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Godman's Graceful Brown Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Godman's Graceful Brown Snake dangerous?

The Godman's Graceful Brown Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Godman's Graceful Brown Snake live?

The Godman's Graceful Brown Snake has verified records in 7 countries, including Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Why is it called the Godman's Graceful Brown Snake?

The specific name, godmani, is in honor of British naturalist Frederick DuCane Godman. The subspecific name, zilchi, is in honor of German malacologist Adolf Michael Zilch.

Where it is found

More Colubridae snakes

• 
  Striped Litter Snake
  Rhadinella serperaster
• 
  Kinkelin Graceful Brown Snake
  Rhadinella kinkelini
• 
  Monte Cristi Graceful Brown Snake
  Rhadinella montecristi
• 
  Rhadinella anachoreta
  Rhadinella anachoreta
• 
  Cusuco Graceful Brown Snake
  Rhadinella pegosalyta
• 
  Kanalchutchan Graceful Brown Snake
  Rhadinella kanalchutchan
• 
  Tearful Pine-Oak Snake
  Rhadinella lachrymans
• 
  Stuart's Graceful Brown Snake
  Rhadinella pilonaorum

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

Rhadinella

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

Rhadinella godmani

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.