Lamprophiidae
Red-Black Striped Snake
HarmlessBothrophthalmus lineatus
5 photographs of the Red-Black Striped Snake. © Ryan van Huyssteen.
The Red-Black Striped Snake (Bothrophthalmus lineatus) is a non-venomous snake in the Lamprophiidae family, recorded in 16 countries.
- Family
- Lamprophiidae
About the Red-Black Striped Snake
The red-black striped snake (Bothrophthalmus lineatus) is the monotypical member of the genus Bothrophthalmus. This snake is found in the Sub-Saharan African countries of Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, Angola and Guinea. It is a harmless snake, black with five red stripes down its back. It lives in forests and forest islands from 700 to 2300 m altitude, often near water. A terrestrial and nocturnal snake, when not active, it hides in holes, leaf litter, and in or under rotting logs. It may bite furiously if handled (although it is harmless). Females lay clutches of about five eggs; it eats small forest animals such as shrews and mice.
The two recognized subspecies are:
Bothrophthalmus lineatus brunneus (Günther, 1863)
Bothrophthalmus lineatus lineatus (Peters, 1863)
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Red-Black Striped Snake
- Is the Red-Black Striped Snake venomous?
- No. The Red-Black Striped Snake (Bothrophthalmus lineatus) 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 Red-Black Striped Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Red-Black Striped Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Red-Black Striped Snake dangerous?
- The Red-Black Striped Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Red-Black Striped Snake live?
- The Red-Black Striped Snake has verified records in 16 countries, including Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Ghana, Liberia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Lamprophiidae snakes
Brown Loreal Pitted Wolf SnakeBothrophthalmus brunneus
Cape House SnakeBoaedon capensis
Common Brown Water SnakeLycodonomorphus rufulus
Cape Wolf SnakeLycophidion capense
Aurora House SnakeLamprophis aurora
Brown House SnakeBoaedon fuliginosus
Black File SnakeGracililima nyassae
Bug-Eyed House SnakeBoaedon mentalis
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
- Lamprophiidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Bothrophthalmus
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Bothrophthalmus lineatus
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.