Boidae
Panamanian Dwarf Boa
HarmlessUngaliophis panamensis
The Panamanian Dwarf Boa (Ungaliophis panamensis) is a non-venomous snake in the Boidae family, recorded in 4 countries.
- Family
- Boidae
About the Panamanian Dwarf Boa
Ungaliophis panamensis, or the Panamanian dwarf boa, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Tropidophiidae. It is native to Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia. Adults measure up to 50 cm (20 in) in length, with males being slightly larger but less massive than females. Its diet is not entirely known, but it has been observed feeding on bats, young northern house wrens and yellow-headed geckos.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Panamanian Dwarf Boa
- Is the Panamanian Dwarf Boa venomous?
- No. The Panamanian Dwarf Boa (Ungaliophis panamensis) 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 Panamanian Dwarf Boa poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Panamanian Dwarf Boa is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Panamanian Dwarf Boa dangerous?
- The Panamanian Dwarf Boa is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Panamanian Dwarf Boa live?
- The Panamanian Dwarf Boa has verified records in 4 countries, including Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua. See the distribution section below for its full range.
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.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Boidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Ungaliophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Ungaliophis panamensis
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.