Is the Schneider's Shieldtail venomous?

No. The Schneider's Shieldtail (Rhinophis oxyrhynchus) 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 Schneider's Shieldtail poisonous?

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

Is the Schneider's Shieldtail dangerous?

The Schneider's Shieldtail is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Schneider's Shieldtail live?

The Schneider's Shieldtail has verified records in 1 country, including Sri Lanka. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Uropeltidae

Schneider's Shieldtail

Harmless

Rhinophis oxyrhynchus

The Schneider's Shieldtail (Rhinophis oxyrhynchus) is a non-venomous snake in the Uropeltidae family, recorded in 1 country.

Family: Uropeltidae

About the Schneider's Shieldtail

Rhinophis oxyrhynchus, also known as Schneider's earth snake or Schneider's shieldtail, is a species of uropeltid snake endemic to Sri Lanka.

Geographic range

It is found in Sri Lanka in the Northern and Eastern Provinces (Mullaitivu, Vavoniya, Trincomalee).

Type locality of Typhlops oxyrhyncus: "India orientali".

Type locality of Dapatnaya lankadivana: "Trincomalie, and [...] the Kandyan Province".

Type locality of Mytilia unimaculata: "Ceylon".

Description

Brown dorsally and ventrally, each scale with a lighter margin. Tail with some yellow markings.

Adults may attain a total length of 43 cm (16+7⁄8 in).

Dorsal scales arranged in 17 or 19 rows at midbody (in 19 or 21 rows behind the head). Ventrals 217–227; subcaudals 5–7.

Snout acutely pointed. Rostral laterally compressed, keeled above, ½ as long as the shielded part of the head. Nasals separated by the rostral. Eye in the ocular shield. No supraoculars. Frontal not longer than broad. No temporals. No mental groove. Tail ending in a large convex rugose shield, which is neither truncated nor spinose at the end. Diameter of body 37 to 39 times in the total length. Ventrals only slightly larger than the contiguous scales. Caudal disc about as long as the shielded part of the head.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Schneider's Shieldtail

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

Where it is found

Sri Lanka

More Uropeltidae 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: Uropeltidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Rhinophis
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Rhinophis oxyrhynchus

Keep learning

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