Is the Olive Whip Snake venomous?

The Olive Whip Snake (Psammophis mossambicus) 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 Olive Whip Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Olive Whip Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Olive Whip Snake dangerous?

The Olive Whip Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Olive Whip Snake live?

The Olive Whip Snake has verified records in 22 countries, including Zambia, South Africa, Kenya. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Psammophiidae

Olive Whip Snake

Harmless

Psammophis mossambicus

Olive Whip Snake — Psammophis mossambicus, © rcoliveira84

6 photographs of the Olive Whip Snake. © rcoliveira84.

The Olive Whip Snake (Psammophis mossambicus) is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous snake in the Psammophiidae family, recorded in 22 countries.

Family: Psammophiidae

About the Olive Whip Snake

Psammophis mossambicus, the olive grass snake, is a snake species in the family Psammophiidae, the sand and whip snakes (not to be confused with the Australian olive whipsnake, Demansia olivacea).

Distribution

P. mossambicus is native to Southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, eastern South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe), but may also be found in Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, and as far north as southern Chad.

Description

This snake grows to 100 to 180 cm (roughly 3–5 feet) in length, and lives in somewhat moist places near a source of water. It is olive-brown in color, with dark-edged scales and a lighter-hued underside. It is often confused with the black mamba, as it can raise its head in a similar fashion to the mambas, cobras and other elapid snakes; however, unlike the aforementioned species, the olive grass snake is opisthoglyphous (rear-fanged), with small teeth located at the back of the mouth that deliver mild venom (and/or toxic salival compounds), primarily used for subduing small, slippery or "squirmy" prey such as frogs, lizards and some rodents. It is considered mildly venomous to humans. No deaths have been recorded, though possible side effects of envenomation may include localised pain and swelling, nausea and fatigue.

In Afrikaans, it is known as olyfkleurige grasslang.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Olive Whip Snake

Is the Olive Whip Snake venomous?: The Olive Whip Snake (Psammophis mossambicus) 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 Olive Whip Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Olive Whip Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Olive Whip Snake dangerous?: The Olive Whip Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Olive Whip Snake live?: The Olive Whip Snake has verified records in 22 countries, including Zambia, South Africa, Kenya. See the distribution section below for its full range.

More Psammophiidae 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: Psammophiidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Psammophis
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Psammophis mossambicus

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.