Rainbow Mud Snake

About the Rainbow Mud Snake

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Rainbow Mud Snake

Is the Rainbow Mud Snake venomous?

No. The Rainbow Mud Snake (Enhydris enhydris) 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 Rainbow Mud Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Rainbow Mud Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Rainbow Mud Snake dangerous?

The Rainbow Mud Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Rainbow Mud Snake live?

The Rainbow Mud Snake has verified records in 19 countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

More Homalopsidae snakes

• 
  Mekong Mud Snake
  Enhydris subtaeniata
• 
  Chanard's Mud Snake
  Enhydris chanardi
• 
  Longtailed Mud Snake
  Enhydris longicauda
• 
  Tay Ninh Mud Snake
  Enhydris innominata
• 
  Southeast Asian Bockadam
  Cerberus schneiderii
• 
  Puff-faced Water Snake
  Homalopsis buccata
• 
  Murphy's Mud Snake
  Hypsiscopus murphyi
• 
  Rice Paddy Snake
  Hypsiscopus plumbeus

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

Homalopsidae

GenusA close-knit group of very similar species

Enhydris

SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name

Enhydris enhydris

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.