Is the Semi-annulated Wolf Snake venomous?

No. The Semi-annulated Wolf Snake (Lycophidion semicinctum) 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 Semi-annulated Wolf Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Semi-annulated Wolf Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Semi-annulated Wolf Snake dangerous?

The Semi-annulated Wolf Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Lamprophiidae

Semi-annulated Wolf Snake

Harmless

Lycophidion semicinctum

Semi-annulated Wolf Snake — Lycophidion semicinctum, (c) Uthman Oyebamiji, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

3 photographs of the Semi-annulated Wolf Snake. (c) Uthman Oyebamiji, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

The Semi-annulated Wolf Snake (Lycophidion semicinctum) is a non-venomous snake in the Lamprophiidae family, recorded in 18 countries.

Family: Lamprophiidae

About the Semi-annulated Wolf Snake

The Semi-annulated Wolf Snake belongs to the Lamprophiidae family, african house snakes & allies. Common African snakes, including the familiar house snakes.

Lamprophiids are a largely African family that includes the house snakes often found around dwellings, where they hunt rodents, plus wolf snakes and many others. Most are non-venomous or only mildly rear-fanged.

Its genus, Lycophidion, covers wolf snakes (African). Small, secretive African snakes with recurved teeth built for gripping hard-scaled lizards.

The Semi-annulated Wolf Snake is non-venomous and harmless to people. Like most snakes it is a quiet predator that helps keep rodents and other small prey in check.

It has been recorded across 18 countries, including Benin, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Central African Republic.

Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.

Frequently asked: Semi-annulated Wolf Snake

Is the Semi-annulated Wolf Snake venomous?: No. The Semi-annulated Wolf Snake (Lycophidion semicinctum) 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 Semi-annulated Wolf Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Semi-annulated Wolf Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Semi-annulated Wolf Snake dangerous?: The Semi-annulated Wolf Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Semi-annulated Wolf Snake live?: The Semi-annulated Wolf Snake has verified records in 18 countries, including Benin, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

Benin Ghana Côte d’Ivoire Nigeria Central African Republic Cameroon Togo Guinea Gambia Senegal Congo Burkina Faso Guinea-Bissau Sierra Leone Chad Mali Sudan Tanzania, United Republic of

More Lamprophiidae 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: Lamprophiidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Lycophidion
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Lycophidion semicinctum

Keep learning

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