Colubridae
Newmans' Earth Snake
HarmlessAdelphicos newmanorum


2 photographs of the Newmans' Earth Snake. (c) Francisco Javier Nava Cavazos, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Newmans' Earth Snake (Adelphicos newmanorum) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Newmans' Earth Snake
Adelphicos newmanorum, also known commonly as the Middle American burrowing snake, Newmans' earth snake, and la zacatera roja in Mexican Spanish, is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Mexico and known from the Mexican states of Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Newmans' Earth Snake
- Is the Newmans' Earth Snake venomous?
- No. The Newmans' Earth Snake (Adelphicos newmanorum) 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 Newmans' Earth Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Newmans' Earth Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Newmans' Earth Snake dangerous?
- The Newmans' Earth Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Newmans' Earth Snake live?
- The Newmans' Earth Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Mexico. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Middle American Burrowing SnakeAdelphicos quadrivirgatum
Chiapas burrowing snakeAdelphicos nigrilatum
Cope's earth snakeAdelphicos visoninum
Stuart's Burrowing SnakeAdelphicos veraepacis
Sargi's earth snakeAdelphicos sargii
Dary's Burrowing SnakeAdelphicos daryi
Common Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis
Common WatersnakeNerodia sipedon
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
- Adelphicos
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Adelphicos newmanorum
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.