Colubridae
Pratt's Snail-eater
HarmlessDipsas pratti
3 photographs of the Pratt's Snail-eater. (c) marcelamorantesdelgado, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Pratt's Snail-eater (Dipsas pratti) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Pratt's Snail-eater
Dipsas pratti, known commonly as Pratt's snail-eater, is a species of arboreal snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to northern South America.
Etymology
The specific name, pratti, is in honor of British naturalist Antwerp Edgar Pratt.
Geographic range
D. pratti is found in Colombia and Venezuela.
Biology
Very few examples of D. pratti have been studied, and the first photograph of a live example of this species was not published until 2012.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Pratt's Snail-eater
- Is the Pratt's Snail-eater venomous?
- No. The Pratt's Snail-eater (Dipsas pratti) 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 Pratt's Snail-eater poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Pratt's Snail-eater is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Pratt's Snail-eater dangerous?
- The Pratt's Snail-eater is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Pratt's Snail-eater live?
- The Pratt's Snail-eater has verified records in 2 countries, including Colombia, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Pratt's Snail-eater?
- The specific name, pratti, is in honor of British naturalist Antwerp Edgar Pratt.
Where it is found
More Colubridae 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
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Dipsas
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Dipsas pratti
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.