Is the Jade Tree Snake venomous?

No. The Jade Tree Snake (Gonyosoma iadinum) 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 Jade Tree Snake poisonous?

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

Is the Jade Tree Snake dangerous?

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

Where does the Jade Tree Snake live?

The Jade Tree Snake has verified records in 21 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Colubridae

Jade Tree Snake

Harmless

Gonyosoma iadinum

Jade Tree Snake — Gonyosoma iadinum, (c) maddyboy, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

3 photographs of the Jade Tree Snake. (c) maddyboy, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

The Jade Tree Snake (Gonyosoma iadinum) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 21 countries.

Family: Colubridae

About the Jade Tree Snake

The Jade Tree Snake belongs to the Colubridae family, colubrids. The largest snake family, and the one most snakes you meet belong to.

Colubridae is by far the biggest family of snakes, with roughly two thousand species worldwide. It is a catch-all of mostly slender, agile, day-active snakes: ratsnakes, kingsnakes, gartersnakes, watersnakes, racers, whipsnakes, and hundreds more. The vast majority are harmless to people and kill prey by grabbing or constricting rather than with venom.

Its genus, Gonyosoma, covers Asian green and rat snakes (Gonyosoma). Slender, day-active Asian climbers, including the famous Red-tailed Green Ratsnake and the horn-nosed Rhino Rat Snake.

The Jade Tree Snake 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 across 21 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Viet Nam and the Philippines.

Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.

Frequently asked: Jade Tree Snake

Is the Jade Tree Snake venomous?: No. The Jade Tree Snake (Gonyosoma iadinum) 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 Jade Tree Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Jade Tree Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Jade Tree Snake dangerous?: The Jade Tree Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Jade Tree Snake live?: The Jade Tree Snake has verified records in 21 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand. See the distribution section below for its full range.

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

Keep learning

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