Impostor Flame-Snake

About the Impostor Flame-Snake

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Impostor Flame-Snake

Is the Impostor Flame-Snake venomous?

No. The Impostor Flame-Snake (Oxyrhopus vanidicus) 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 Impostor Flame-Snake poisonous?

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

Is the Impostor Flame-Snake dangerous?

The Impostor Flame-Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Impostor Flame-Snake live?

The Impostor Flame-Snake has verified records in 7 countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

More Colubridae snakes

• 
  Forest Flame Snake
  Oxyrhopus petolarius
• 
  Guibe's Flame Snake
  Oxyrhopus guibei
• 
  Brazilian False Coral Snake
  Oxyrhopus trigeminus
• 
  Tschudi's False Coral Snake
  Oxyrhopus melanogenys
• 
  Amazon False Coral Snake
  Oxyrhopus rhombifer
• 
  Duméril's False Coral Snake
  Oxyrhopus clathratus
• 
  Yellow-headed Flame-Snake
  Oxyrhopus occipitalis
• 
  Werner's False Coral Snake
  Oxyrhopus leucomelas

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

Oxyrhopus

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

Oxyrhopus vanidicus

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.