Pseudaspididae
Painted Mock Viper
HarmlessPsammodynastes pictus
6 photographs of the Painted Mock Viper. © John Witton.
The Painted Mock Viper (Psammodynastes pictus) is a non-venomous snake in the Pseudaspididae family, recorded in 6 countries.
- Family
- Pseudaspididae
About the Painted Mock Viper
Psammodynastes pictus, commonly known as painted mock viper or spotted mock viper, is a species of snake native to Southeast Asia.
Distribution
The type locality for this species is Borneo and (erroneously) India. Within Borneo, it is found in both Brunei, East Malaysia and Kalimantan. This species is also distributed across the Malay Peninsula, including Singapore, and on the islands of Sumatra, Belitung, Bangka, Simeulue, and Riau Archipelago (Indonesia).
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Painted Mock Viper
- Is the Painted Mock Viper venomous?
- No. The Painted Mock Viper (Psammodynastes pictus) 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 Painted Mock Viper poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Painted Mock Viper is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Painted Mock Viper dangerous?
- The Painted Mock Viper is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Painted Mock Viper live?
- The Painted Mock Viper has verified records in 6 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Pseudaspididae 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
- Pseudaspididae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Psammodynastes
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Psammodynastes pictus
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.