Is the Matschie's African Ground Snake venomous?

No. The Matschie's African Ground Snake (Gonionotophis klingi) 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 Matschie's African Ground Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Matschie's African Ground Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Matschie's African Ground Snake dangerous?

The Matschie's African Ground Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Matschie's African Ground Snake live?

The Matschie's African Ground Snake has verified records in 6 countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Lamprophiidae

Matschie's African Ground Snake

Harmless

Gonionotophis klingi

The Matschie's African Ground Snake (Gonionotophis klingi) is a non-venomous snake in the Lamprophiidae family, recorded in 6 countries.

Family: Lamprophiidae

About the Matschie's African Ground Snake

The Matschie's African Ground Snake belongs to the Lamprophiidae family, african house snakes & allies. Common African snakes, including the familiar house snakes.

Lamprophiids are a largely African family that includes the house snakes often found around dwellings, where they hunt rodents, plus wolf snakes and many others. Most are non-venomous or only mildly rear-fanged.

Its genus, Gonionotophis, covers African ground snakes. Small, secretive African ground snakes that hunt by constriction and pose no danger to people.

The Matschie's African Ground 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 in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Guinea, Nigeria and Togo.

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

Frequently asked: Matschie's African Ground Snake

Is the Matschie's African Ground Snake venomous?: No. The Matschie's African Ground Snake (Gonionotophis klingi) 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 Matschie's African Ground Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Matschie's African Ground Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Matschie's African Ground Snake dangerous?: The Matschie's African Ground Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Matschie's African Ground Snake live?: The Matschie's African Ground Snake has verified records in 6 countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

Côte d’Ivoire Ghana Liberia Guinea Nigeria Togo

More Lamprophiidae 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: Lamprophiidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Gonionotophis
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Gonionotophis klingi

Keep learning

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