Colubridae
Levantine Dwarf Snake
HarmlessEirenis levantinus
3 photographs of the Levantine Dwarf Snake. (c) משה נאמן, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Levantine Dwarf Snake (Eirenis levantinus) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Levantine Dwarf Snake
Eirenis levantinus is a species of snake in the family Colubridae .
It is found in Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey, and was rediscovered on Cyprus in 2007 ~150 years after the first report. Its natural habitats are Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, plantations, and rural gardens.
It is threatened by habitat loss.
They are insectivores and are among the few snakes that eat a diet consisting entirely of insects and worms. In the wild, they consume a variety of prey such as crickets, moths, grasshoppers, caterpillars, fly larvae, spiders, and worms.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Levantine Dwarf Snake
- Is the Levantine Dwarf Snake venomous?
- No. The Levantine Dwarf Snake (Eirenis levantinus) 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 Levantine Dwarf Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Levantine Dwarf Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Levantine Dwarf Snake dangerous?
- The Levantine Dwarf Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
More Colubridae snakes
Roth's Dwarf SnakeEirenis rothii
Ring-Headed Dwarf SnakeEirenis modestus
Collared Dwarf SnakeEirenis collaris
Dotted Dwarf SnakeEirenis punctatolineatus
Spotted Line Dwarf SnakeEirenis lineomaculatus
Narrow-striped Dwarf SnakeEirenis decemlineatus
Crowned Dwarf RacerEirenis coronella
Dark-headed Dwarf RacerEirenis persicus
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
- Eirenis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Eirenis levantinus
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.