Mexican Groundsnake

About the Mexican Groundsnake

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Mexican Groundsnake

Is the Mexican Groundsnake venomous?

No. The Mexican Groundsnake (Sonora mutabilis) 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 Mexican Groundsnake poisonous?

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

Is the Mexican Groundsnake dangerous?

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

Where does the Mexican Groundsnake live?

The Mexican Groundsnake has verified records in 1 country, including Mexico. See the distribution section below for its full range.

How do I identify the Mexican Groundsnake?

Small and smooth-scaled; highly variable — banded, striped, or plain.

How big does the Mexican Groundsnake get?

Small, 8–18 in.

Where it is found

More Colubridae snakes

• 
  Great Plains Ground Snake
  Sonora episcopa
• 
  Ground Snake
  Sonora semiannulata
• 
  Colorado Desert Shovelnose Snake
  Sonora annulata
• 
  Mojave Shovelnose Snake
  Sonora occipitalis
• 
  Banded Sand Snake
  Sonora cincta
• 
  Taylor’s Ground Snake
  Sonora taylori
• 
  Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake
  Sonora palarostris
• 
  Michoacán Ground Snake
  Sonora michoacanensis

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

Sonora

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

Sonora mutabilis

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.