Xenodermidae
Peters' Odd-scaled Snake
HarmlessAchalinus spinalis
2 photographs of the Peters' Odd-scaled Snake. © りなべる.
The Peters' Odd-scaled Snake (Achalinus spinalis) is a non-venomous snake in the Xenodermidae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Family
- Xenodermidae
About the Peters' Odd-scaled Snake
Achalinus spinalis, commonly known as Peters' odd-scaled snake, the Japanese odd-scaled snake, the Japanese ground snake or the grey burrowing snake, is a species of snake in the family Xenodermidae.
The species is found in northern Vietnam, Japan (Kyūshū, Honshū, the Ryukyu Islands, Koshiki, Tokuno-shima: Kametoku and Inokawa), and central China (east to Fujian, west to Yunnan and Sichuan, and north to Gansu and Shaanxi, and in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Jiangsu and Hubei) at an elevation of 1,230 m.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Peters' Odd-scaled Snake
- Is the Peters' Odd-scaled Snake venomous?
- No. The Peters' Odd-scaled Snake (Achalinus spinalis) 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 Peters' Odd-scaled Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Peters' Odd-scaled Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Peters' Odd-scaled Snake dangerous?
- The Peters' Odd-scaled Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Peters' Odd-scaled Snake live?
- The Peters' Odd-scaled Snake has verified records in 2 countries, including Japan, China. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Xenodermidae snakes
Boulenger's Odd-scaled SnakeAchalinus rufescens
Black Odd-scaled SnakeAchalinus niger
Huang's odd-scaled snakeAchalinus huangjietangi
Formosa Odd-scaled SnakeAchalinus formosanus
Achalinus ningshanensisAchalinus ningshanensis
Amami Takachiho SnakeAchalinus werneri
Achalinus dehuaensisAchalinus dehuaensis
Szechwan Odd-scaled SnakeAchalinus meiguensis
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
- Xenodermidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Achalinus
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Achalinus spinalis
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.