Mertens' Tropical Forest Snake

About the Mertens' Tropical Forest Snake

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Mertens' Tropical Forest Snake

Is the Mertens' Tropical Forest Snake venomous?

No. The Mertens' Tropical Forest Snake (Erythrolamprus mertensi) 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 Mertens' Tropical Forest Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Mertens' Tropical Forest Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Mertens' Tropical Forest Snake dangerous?

The Mertens' Tropical Forest Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Mertens' Tropical Forest Snake live?

The Mertens' Tropical Forest Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

More Colubridae snakes

• 
  Yellow-bellied Liophis
  Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus
• 
  Military Ground Snake
  Erythrolamprus miliaris
• 
  Fire-bellied Snake
  Erythrolamprus epinephalus
• 
  Black-backed Snake
  Erythrolamprus melanotus
• 
  Aesculapian False Coral Snake
  Erythrolamprus aesculapii
• 
  Double-banded Coral Snake Mimic
  Erythrolamprus bizona
• 
  Royal Ground Snake
  Erythrolamprus reginae
• 
  Velvet Swampsnake
  Erythrolamprus typhlus

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

Erythrolamprus

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

Erythrolamprus mertensi

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.