Psammophiidae
Kenyan Striped Skaapsteker
HarmlessPsammophylax multisquamis



3 photographs of the Kenyan Striped Skaapsteker. (c) Gwili Gibbon, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Kenyan Striped Skaapsteker (Psammophylax multisquamis) is a non-venomous snake in the Psammophiidae family, recorded in 4 countries.
- Family
- Psammophiidae
About the Kenyan Striped Skaapsteker
Psammophylax multisquamis is a species of snake belonging to the family Psammophiidae. It is commonly known as the Kenyan striped staapsteker and is found in various parts of eastern Africa, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Rwanda. It typically resides in sandy, rocky, and grassy terrains with plenty of places to hide.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Kenyan Striped Skaapsteker
- Is the Kenyan Striped Skaapsteker venomous?
- No. The Kenyan Striped Skaapsteker (Psammophylax multisquamis) 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 Kenyan Striped Skaapsteker poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Kenyan Striped Skaapsteker is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Kenyan Striped Skaapsteker dangerous?
- The Kenyan Striped Skaapsteker is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Kenyan Striped Skaapsteker live?
- The Kenyan Striped Skaapsteker has verified records in 4 countries, including Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, United Republic of. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Psammophiidae snakes
Rhombic SkaapstekerPsammophylax rhombeatus
Striped SkaapstekerPsammophylax tritaeniatus
Grey-bellied SkaapstekerPsammophylax variabilis
Angolan skaapstekerPsammophylax ocellatus
Western Montpellier SnakeMalpolon monspessulanus
Eastern Montpellier SnakeMalpolon insignitus
Stripe-bellied Sand SnakePsammophis subtaeniatus
Karoo Sand SnakePsammophis notostictus
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
- Psammophiidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Psammophylax
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Psammophylax multisquamis
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.