Is the Günther's False Fer-de-lance venomous?

No. The Günther's False Fer-de-lance (Xenodon guentheri) 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 Günther's False Fer-de-lance poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Günther's False Fer-de-lance is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Günther's False Fer-de-lance dangerous?

The Günther's False Fer-de-lance is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Günther's False Fer-de-lance live?

The Günther's False Fer-de-lance has verified records in 2 countries, including Brazil, Uruguay. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Colubridae

Günther's False Fer-de-lance

Harmless

Xenodon guentheri

The Günther's False Fer-de-lance (Xenodon guentheri) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 countries.

Family: Colubridae

About the Günther's False Fer-de-lance

Xenodon guentheri, also known commonly as Günther's false fer-de-lance, is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Brazil.

Etymology

The specific name, guentheri, is in honor of German-British herpetologist Albert Günther.

Common names

X. guentheri is known by several common names in Brazilian Portuguese including boipeva, chata, cobra-chata, and jararaca-falsa.

Geographic range

X. guentheri is found in southern Brazil, in the Brazilian states of Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, and Santa Catarina.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of X. guentheri is Araucaria angustifolia forest, at altitudes of 600–1,600 m (2,000–5,200 ft).

Defensive Behavior

When threatened, X. guentheri may exhibit defensive behaviors including body flattening, tail display, head triangulation, and fleeing.

Reproduction

X. guentheri is oviparous.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Günther's False Fer-de-lance

Is the Günther's False Fer-de-lance venomous?: No. The Günther's False Fer-de-lance (Xenodon guentheri) 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 Günther's False Fer-de-lance poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Günther's False Fer-de-lance is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Günther's False Fer-de-lance dangerous?: The Günther's False Fer-de-lance is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Günther's False Fer-de-lance live?: The Günther's False Fer-de-lance has verified records in 2 countries, including Brazil, Uruguay. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Why is it called the Günther's False Fer-de-lance?: The specific name, guentheri, is in honor of German-British herpetologist Albert Günther.

Where it is found

Brazil Uruguay

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

Keep learning

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