Colubridae
North African Catsnake
HarmlessTelescopus tripolitanus
3 photographs of the North African Catsnake. (c) Alex Ville, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The North African Catsnake (Telescopus tripolitanus) is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 7 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the North African Catsnake
Telescopus tripolitanus is a species of snake of the family Colubridae.
The snake is found in Central Africa.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: North African Catsnake
- Is the North African Catsnake venomous?
- The North African Catsnake (Telescopus tripolitanus) is rear-fanged and only mildly venomous. It is not considered dangerous to humans (its venom is weak and its fangs sit at the back of the mouth) but a bite can cause local swelling or irritation, so it should not be handled.
- Is the North African Catsnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The North African Catsnake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the North African Catsnake dangerous?
- The North African Catsnake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the North African Catsnake live?
- The North African Catsnake has verified records in 7 countries, including Morocco, Mauritania, Nigeria. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae 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
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Telescopus
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Telescopus tripolitanus
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.