Colubridae
Ravana's Rough-sided Snake
HarmlessAspidura ravanai
The Ravana's Rough-sided Snake (Aspidura ravanai) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Ravana's Rough-sided Snake
Aspidura ravanai, commonly known as Ravana's rough-sided snake is a species of colubrid snake endemic to Sri Lanka.
Taxonomy
The specific name, ravanai, is in honor of the Sri Lankan mythological King Ravana.
Distribution and habitat
A. ravanai is known only from the western slopes Sri Pada sanctuary in the central highlands of Sri Lanka.
Description
A. ravanai is a small snake similar to its sister lineage A. trachyprocta. The dorsum is dark black in color. A yellowish line runs through the body in venter region.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Ravana's Rough-sided Snake
- Is the Ravana's Rough-sided Snake venomous?
- No. The Ravana's Rough-sided Snake (Aspidura ravanai) 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 Ravana's Rough-sided Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Ravana's Rough-sided Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Ravana's Rough-sided Snake dangerous?
- The Ravana's Rough-sided Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
More Colubridae snakes
Common Rough-sided SnakeAspidura trachyprocta
Boie's Rough-sided SnakeAspidura brachyorrhos
Günther's Rough-sided SnakeAspidura guentheri
Ceylon KeelbackAspidura ceylonensis
De Silva's Rough-sided SnakeAspidura desilvai
Cope's Rough-sided SnakeAspidura copei
Drummond-Hay's Rough-sided SnakeAspidura drummondhayi- No photoSri Lanka Rough-sided SnakeAspidura deraniyagalae
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
- Aspidura
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Aspidura ravanai
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.