Is the Rhadinella xerophila venomous?

No. The Rhadinella xerophila 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 Rhadinella xerophila poisonous?

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

Is the Rhadinella xerophila dangerous?

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

Where does the Rhadinella xerophila live?

The Rhadinella xerophila has verified records in 1 country, including Guatemala. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Colubridae

Rhadinella xerophila

Harmless

This species has no widely used English common name.

Rhadinella xerophila is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.

Family: Colubridae

About the Rhadinella xerophila

Rhadinella xerophila is a very rare snake endemic to the seasonally dry forests and thornscrub of the Middle Motagua Valley in Guatemala. This snake is characterized by its orange auburn head and its small size. This species is related to the group of Rhadinella that have dark dorsal coloration, which mostly or completely obscures a pattern of longitudinal striping characteristic of the majority of species of Rhadinella. This species has dark gray, almost black, dorsal coloration with barely discernible slightly darker striping. Top of the head is mostly blackish with irregular auburn-orange markings on the internasals, prefrontals, frontal, parietals, loreals, postoculars, temporals, and two ultimate supralabials. Most conspicuous features are an orange-auburn Y-shaped marking along frontal-parietal and interparietal sutures, followed by an orange nuchal collar. The closest relative of the new species, based on morphological similarities, appears to be Rhadinella pilonaorum, which occurs in a relatively mesic habitat of pine-oak forest located about 90 km southwest from the type-locality of the new species. It has been recorded only at Heloderma Natural Reserve, El Arenal, Zacapa, Guatemala.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Rhadinella xerophila

Is the Rhadinella xerophila venomous?: No. The Rhadinella xerophila 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 Rhadinella xerophila poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Rhadinella xerophila is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Rhadinella xerophila dangerous?: The Rhadinella xerophila is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Rhadinella xerophila live?: The Rhadinella xerophila has verified records in 1 country, including Guatemala. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

Guatemala

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

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.