Colubridae
Sakashima green snake
HarmlessPtyas herminae
3 photographs of the Sakashima green snake. (c) asimov0803, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Sakashima green snake (Ptyas herminae) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Sakashima green snake
The Sakishima green snake (Ptyas herminae) is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Yaeyama Islands in the southern Ryukyu Islands of Japan.
Conservation status
These snakes were listed as Near Threatened on the revised 2000 Red List of Japan, but this was changed to Least Concern in a 2016 assessment.
Etymology
The specific name, herminae, is in honor of Boettger's wife, Hermine Boettger.
Geographic range
P. herminae is found in the Yaeyama Islands of Japan.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of P. herminae is forest.
Description
P. herminae may attain a total length of 58 cm (23 in), which includes a tail about 11 cm (4.3 in) long. They have a pointed snout, and their scales are arranged in 17 rows, and they have 17 teeth in the upper jaw, of almost equal size.
Behavior
P. herminae is terrestrial.
Diet
P. herminae preys upon earthworms.
Reproduction
P. herminae is oviparous. An adult female may lay a clutch of about eight eggs in August, which is later than other species of terrestrial snakes lay eggs in the Ryukyus.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Sakashima green snake
- Is the Sakashima green snake venomous?
- No. The Sakashima green snake (Ptyas herminae) 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 Sakashima green snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Sakashima green snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Sakashima green snake dangerous?
- The Sakashima green snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Sakashima green snake live?
- The Sakashima green snake has verified records in 1 country, including Japan. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Sakashima green snake eat?
- P. herminae preys upon earthworms.
- Why is it called the Sakashima green snake?
- The specific name, herminae, is in honor of Boettger's wife, Hermine Boettger.
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
- Ptyas
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Ptyas herminae
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.