Uropeltidae
Salty Earth Snake
HarmlessRhinophis sanguineus

The Salty Earth Snake (Rhinophis sanguineus) is a non-venomous snake in the Uropeltidae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Family
- Uropeltidae
About the Salty Earth Snake
Rhinophis sanguineus, commonly known as the salty earth snake, is a species of uropeltid snake found in the Western Ghats of India.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Salty Earth Snake
- Is the Salty Earth Snake venomous?
- No. The Salty Earth Snake (Rhinophis sanguineus) 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 Salty Earth Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Salty Earth Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Salty Earth Snake dangerous?
- The Salty Earth Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Salty Earth Snake live?
- The Salty Earth Snake has verified records in 2 countries, including India, Sri Lanka. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Uropeltidae snakes
Schneider's ShieldtailRhinophis oxyrhynchus
Bicoloured shieldtailRhinophis melanoleucus
Cuvier's Earth SnakeRhinophis philippinus
Blyth's Earth SnakeRhinophis blythii
Large Shieldtail SnakeRhinophis saffragamus
Karinthandan's shield tailRhinophis karinthandani
Trevelyan's Earth SnakeRhinophis homolepis
Gray's Earth SnakeRhinophis melanogaster
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
- Uropeltidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Rhinophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Rhinophis sanguineus
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.