Boidae
New Guinea ground boa
HarmlessCandoia aspera
2 photographs of the New Guinea ground boa. © Massimo D Eusebio.
The New Guinea ground boa (Candoia aspera) is a non-venomous snake in the Boidae family, recorded in 6 countries.
- Family
- Boidae
About the New Guinea ground boa
Candoia aspera, known commonly as the Papuan ground boa, New Guinea ground boa, or viper boa, is a species of snake in the family Boidae. As its common name suggests, it is found in New Guinea (in the Papua province of Indonesia and in Papua New Guinea). It is a terrestrial species, living in the undergrowth. It is smaller than some other members of the Boidae family. The Papuan ground boa grows to 2 to 3 feet (0.61 to 0.91 m) in length. It is known to be primarily nocturnal. The Papuan ground boa is known to be slightly more defensive than other Candoia species. In recent years, it has become increasingly scarce in the pet industry due to restrictions on import/export trading. Though it was more common in the past, there is still very little known about it, in particular its behaviour in the wild; for example, its lifespan is still undetermined. It got the nickname viper boa from its appearance. It looks extremely similar to the elapid species Acanthophis laevis, more commonly known as the "Papuan death adder." The Papuan death adder itself only resembles a viper, but is actually an elapid. However, because of the resemblance to the highly venomous Papuan death adder, many Papuan ground boas are killed out of fear, although the latter is harmless.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: New Guinea ground boa
- Is the New Guinea ground boa venomous?
- No. The New Guinea ground boa (Candoia aspera) 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 New Guinea ground boa poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The New Guinea ground boa is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the New Guinea ground boa dangerous?
- The New Guinea ground boa is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the New Guinea ground boa live?
- The New Guinea ground boa has verified records in 6 countries, including Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Solomon Islands. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Boidae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
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.