Boidae
Nosy Komba ground boa
HarmlessSanzinia volontany
6 photographs of the Nosy Komba ground boa. © amantedarmanin.
The Nosy Komba ground boa (Sanzinia volontany) is a non-venomous snake in the Boidae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Boidae
About the Nosy Komba ground boa
The Nosy Komba ground boa (Sanzinia volontany) is a boa species endemic to the island of Madagascar. It is brownish in colour and is found on the western side of the island. It was once considered conspecific with the Madagascar tree boa. Like all other boas, it is not venomous.
Distribution and habitat
Endemic to Madagascar. The type locality given is "Madagascar".
Feeding
Arboreal and generally nocturnal, it feeds on mammals and birds. Its thermoreceptive pits help it to locate its prey. It will also leave the trees to actively hunt for small mammals on the ground. It favors trees and shrubs near streams, rivers, ponds and swamps.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Nosy Komba ground boa
- Is the Nosy Komba ground boa venomous?
- No. The Nosy Komba ground boa (Sanzinia volontany) 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 Nosy Komba ground boa poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Nosy Komba ground boa is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Nosy Komba ground boa dangerous?
- The Nosy Komba ground boa is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Nosy Komba ground boa live?
- The Nosy Komba ground boa has verified records in 1 country, including Madagascar. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Nosy Komba ground boa eat?
- Arboreal and generally nocturnal, it feeds on mammals and birds. Its thermoreceptive pits help it to locate its prey. It will also leave the trees to actively hunt for small mammals on the ground. It favors trees and shrubs near streams, rivers, ponds and swamps.
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.