Colubridae
Oxybelis inkaterra
HarmlessThis species has no widely used English common name.
Oxybelis inkaterra is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Oxybelis inkaterra
Oxybelis inkaterra, the Inkaterra vine snake, is a species of snake of the family Colubridae. Formally described in 2021, it is named after the ecotourism company Inkaterra, which owns and operates the reserve in which the holotype was collected. It has a grayish-tan body with dark brown flecks and streaks, a dark brown lateral stripe on the head bordered below by white, brown crown, and black mouth. It is endemic to South America, where it is known from Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Oxybelis inkaterra
- Is the Oxybelis inkaterra venomous?
- The Oxybelis inkaterra 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 Oxybelis inkaterra poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Oxybelis inkaterra is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Oxybelis inkaterra dangerous?
- The Oxybelis inkaterra is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Oxybelis inkaterra live?
- The Oxybelis inkaterra has verified records in 2 countries, including Ecuador, Peru. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Green Vine SnakeOxybelis fulgidus
Köhler’s Vine SnakeOxybelis koehleri
Thornscrub Vine SnakeOxybelis microphthalmus
Cope's Vine SnakeOxybelis brevirostris
Brown VinesnakeOxybelis aeneus
Rutherford's Vine SnakeOxybelis rutherfordi
Gulf Coast Vine SnakeOxybelis potosiensis
Striped Vine SnakeOxybelis vittatus
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
- Oxybelis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Oxybelis inkaterra
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.