Is the Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake venomous?

No. The Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake (Echinanthera cephalostriata) 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 Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake dangerous?

The Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake live?

The Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Brazil. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Colubridae

Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake

Harmless

Echinanthera cephalostriata

Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake — Echinanthera cephalostriata, © Bruno Henrique Aranda

6 photographs of the Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake. © Bruno Henrique Aranda.

The Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake (Echinanthera cephalostriata) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.

Family: Colubridae

About the Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake

Echinanthera cephalostriata is a species of snake of the family Colubridae in the subfamily Dipsadinae. The species is endemic to Brazil.

Echinanthera cephalostriata is a species in the family Colubridae, common name "Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake". They're a slender, small to medium length snake, with a blotched pattern along their back and a thick black stripe down the sides. They're usually seen in colors of brown and grey, and have a bright yellow venter, with characteristically big eyes and a small head. They're non-venomous, and prey mainly upon amphibians. They are diurnal and might be spotted near creeks. They range from the Brazilian states of Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, and Espírito Santo. Little information has been recorded on this species.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake

Is the Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake venomous?: No. The Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake (Echinanthera cephalostriata) 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 Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake dangerous?: The Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake live?: The Head-striped Leaf-litter Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Brazil. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

Brazil

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

Keep learning

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