Uropeltidae
Gray's Earth Snake
HarmlessRhinophis melanogaster
The Gray's Earth Snake (Rhinophis melanogaster) is a non-venomous snake in the Uropeltidae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Family
- Uropeltidae
About the Gray's Earth Snake
The Gray's Earth Snake belongs to the Uropeltidae family, shield-tailed snakes. Burrowing snakes with a bizarre, roughened tail tip.
Shield-tailed snakes are specialized burrowers named for the odd, often disc-like or spiny shield at the end of the tail, which they use to plug their tunnels. They are small, harmless, and rarely seen above ground.
Its genus, Rhinophis, covers shieldtail snakes. Burrowing shieldtail snakes that spend almost their entire lives underground in the soils of South Asia.
The Gray's Earth Snake is non-venomous and harmless to people. Like most snakes it is a quiet predator that helps keep rodents and other small prey in check.
It has been recorded in Sri Lanka and India.
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Gray's Earth Snake
- Is the Gray's Earth Snake venomous?
- No. The Gray's Earth Snake (Rhinophis melanogaster) 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 Gray's Earth Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Gray's Earth Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Gray's Earth Snake dangerous?
- The Gray's Earth Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Gray's Earth Snake live?
- The Gray's Earth Snake has verified records in 2 countries, including Sri Lanka, India. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Uropeltidae snakes
Schneider's ShieldtailRhinophis oxyrhynchus
Bicoloured shieldtailRhinophis melanoleucus
Cuvier's Earth SnakeRhinophis philippinus
Blyth's Earth SnakeRhinophis blythii
Large Shieldtail SnakeRhinophis saffragamus
Karinthandan's shield tailRhinophis karinthandani
Trevelyan's Earth SnakeRhinophis homolepis
Salty Earth SnakeRhinophis sanguineus
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
- Uropeltidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Rhinophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Rhinophis melanogaster
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. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.