Colubridae
Olive Oriental Slender Snake
HarmlessTrachischium laeve
2 photographs of the Olive Oriental Slender Snake. (c) Ramnarayan K, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ramnarayan K.
The Olive Oriental Slender Snake (Trachischium laeve) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 3 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Olive Oriental Slender Snake
Trachischium laeve, also known as the olive oriental slender snake, is a species of colubrid snake found in Nepal and Indian Himalaya.
Geographic range
It is found in India (western Himalayas) and Nepal.
Description
The dorsum is uniform grayish brown. The throat, belly, underside of tail, and first row of dorsal scales are yellowish.
One preocular; one postocular; temporals 1+1.5 upper labials, 3rd and 4th entering the orbit. Dorsal scales very smooth, shiny, without apical pits, in 13 rows. The male does not have any keels on the dorsal scales in the anal/basicaudal region. Ventrals 147–149; anal divided; subcaudals divided 33–39.
There are 17 maxillary teeth in a continuous series, the posterior slightly shorter than the anterior. The mandibular teeth are all the same length.
The measurements of the type specimens are as follows: a male, 337 mm (13 inches) SVL (Snout to Vent Length), tail 53 mm (2 inches); a female, 502 mm (193⁄4 inches) SVL, tail 70 mm (23⁄4 inches).
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Olive Oriental Slender Snake
- Is the Olive Oriental Slender Snake venomous?
- No. The Olive Oriental Slender Snake (Trachischium laeve) 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 Olive Oriental Slender Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Olive Oriental Slender Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Olive Oriental Slender Snake dangerous?
- The Olive Oriental Slender Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Olive Oriental Slender Snake live?
- The Olive Oriental Slender Snake has verified records in 3 countries, including India, China, Germany. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Coral-bellied WormsnakeTrachischium guentheri
Mountain Worm-eating SnakeTrachischium monticola
Yellowbelly Worm-eating SnakeTrachischium tenuiceps
Blyth's Reticulate SnakeTrachischium reticulata
Blackbelly Worm-eating SnakeTrachischium fuscum
Mizoram Ground SnakeTrachischium hmuifang
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
- Trachischium
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Trachischium laeve
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.