Homalopsidae
Homalopsis semizonata
HarmlessThis species has no widely used English common name.
2 photographs of the Homalopsis semizonata. (c) bernhard_hiller, some rights reserved (CC BY).
Homalopsis semizonata is a non-venomous snake in the Homalopsidae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Family
- Homalopsidae
About the Homalopsis semizonata
The Homalopsis semizonata belongs to the Homalopsidae family, mud & water snakes. Aquatic, mud-dwelling snakes with upward-facing eyes and nostrils.
Homalopsids are aquatic and semi-aquatic snakes of muddy waters, with valved nostrils and eyes set high on the head for life at the surface. Many are rear-fanged. They feed on fish, frogs, and crustaceans.
Its genus, Homalopsis, covers puff-faced water snakes. Thick-bodied Southeast Asian water snakes built for hunting fish and frogs in muddy, slow-moving water.
The Homalopsis semizonata 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 Myanmar and Thailand.
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Homalopsis semizonata
- Is the Homalopsis semizonata venomous?
- No. The Homalopsis semizonata 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 Homalopsis semizonata poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Homalopsis semizonata is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Homalopsis semizonata dangerous?
- The Homalopsis semizonata is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Homalopsis semizonata live?
- The Homalopsis semizonata has verified records in 2 countries, including Myanmar, Thailand. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Homalopsidae snakes
Puff-faced Water SnakeHomalopsis buccata
Jack's Water SnakeHomalopsis mereljcoxi
Deuve's Water SnakeHomalopsis nigroventralis
Southeast Asian BockadamCerberus schneiderii
Rainbow Mud SnakeEnhydris enhydris
Murphy's Mud SnakeHypsiscopus murphyi
Rice Paddy SnakeHypsiscopus plumbeus
Chinese Water SnakeMyrrophis chinensis
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
- Homalopsidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Homalopsis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Homalopsis semizonata
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.