Jan’s Cliff Racer

About the Jan’s Cliff Racer

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Jan’s Cliff Racer

Is the Jan’s Cliff Racer venomous?

No. The Jan’s Cliff Racer (Platyceps rhodorachis) 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 Jan’s Cliff Racer poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Jan’s Cliff Racer is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Jan’s Cliff Racer dangerous?

The Jan’s Cliff Racer is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

More Colubridae snakes

• 
  Dahl's Whip Snake
  Platyceps najadum
• 
  Red Whip Snake
  Platyceps collaris
• 
  Banded Racer
  Platyceps plinii
• 
  Spotted Desert Racer
  Platyceps karelini
• 
  Glossy-bellied Racer
  Platyceps ventromaculatus
• 
  Sahara Racer
  Platyceps saharicus
• 
  Rogers' Racer
  Platyceps rogersi
• 
  Graceful Racer
  Platyceps gracilis

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

Platyceps

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

Platyceps rhodorachis

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.