Madagascar tree boa

About the Madagascar tree boa

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Madagascar tree boa

Is the Madagascar tree boa venomous?

No. The Madagascar tree boa (Sanzinia madagascariensis) 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 Madagascar tree boa poisonous?

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

Is the Madagascar tree boa dangerous?

The Madagascar tree boa is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Madagascar tree boa live?

The Madagascar tree boa has verified records in 4 countries, including Madagascar, United States of America, France. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

More Boidae snakes

• 
  Nosy Komba ground boa
  Sanzinia volontany
• 
  Central American Boa
  Boa imperator
• 
  Northern Rubber Boa
  Charina bottae
• 
  Boa Constrictor
  Boa constrictor
• 
  Coastal Rosy Boa
  Lichanura orcutti
• 
  Garden Tree Boa
  Corallus hortulana
• 
  Mexican West Coast Boa Constrictor
  Boa sigma
• 
  Green Anaconda
  Eunectes murinus

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

Boidae

GenusA close-knit group of very similar species

Sanzinia

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

Sanzinia madagascariensis

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.