Colubridae
Island Pointed Snake
HarmlessUromacer frenatus
6 photographs of the Island Pointed Snake. © Yolanda M. Leon.
The Island Pointed Snake (Uromacer frenatus) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Island Pointed Snake
Uromacer frenatus, the slender Hispaniolan vine snake or island pointed snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Hispaniola in the West Indies.
Geographic range
U. frenatus is found in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of U. frenatus is forest at altitudes from sea level to 929 m (3,048 ft).
Reproduction
U. frenatus is oviparous.
Subspecies
Four subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Uromacer frenatus chlorauges Schwartz, 1976
Uromacer frenatus dorsalis Dunn, 1920
Uromacer frenatus frenatus (Günther, 1865)
Uromacer frenatus wetmorei Cochran, 1931
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Uromacer.
Etymology
The subspecific name, wetmorei, is in honor of American ornithologist Alexander Wetmore.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Island Pointed Snake
- Is the Island Pointed Snake venomous?
- No. The Island Pointed Snake (Uromacer frenatus) 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 Island Pointed Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Island Pointed Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Island Pointed Snake dangerous?
- The Island Pointed Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Island Pointed Snake live?
- The Island Pointed Snake has verified records in 2 countries, including Haiti, Dominican Republic. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Island Pointed Snake?
- The subspecific name, wetmorei, is in honor of American ornithologist Alexander Wetmore.
Where it is found
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
- Uromacer
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Uromacer frenatus
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. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.