Colubridae
Short Ground Snake
HarmlessErythrolamprus breviceps
3 photographs of the Short Ground Snake. (c) dhfischer, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by dhfischer.
The Short Ground Snake (Erythrolamprus breviceps) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 10 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Short Ground Snake
Erythrolamprus breviceps, the short ground snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is found in Suriname, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, French Guiana, and Guyana.
Classification
Erythrolamprus breviceps belongs to the genus Erythrolamprus, which contains over 50 species. The genus Erythrolamprus belongs to the subfamily Dipsadinae, which is sometimes referred to as the family Dipsadidae. The relationships of Erythrolamprus species located in northern South America can be shown in the cladogram below, based on molecular DNA analysis:
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Short Ground Snake
- Is the Short Ground Snake venomous?
- No. The Short Ground Snake (Erythrolamprus breviceps) 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 Short Ground Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Short Ground Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Short Ground Snake dangerous?
- The Short Ground Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Short Ground Snake live?
- The Short Ground Snake has verified records in 10 countries, including Colombia, French Guiana, Brazil. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Yellow-bellied LiophisErythrolamprus poecilogyrus
Military Ground SnakeErythrolamprus miliaris
Fire-bellied SnakeErythrolamprus epinephalus
Black-backed SnakeErythrolamprus melanotus
Aesculapian False Coral SnakeErythrolamprus aesculapii
Double-banded Coral Snake MimicErythrolamprus bizona
Royal Ground SnakeErythrolamprus reginae
Velvet SwampsnakeErythrolamprus typhlus
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
- Erythrolamprus
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Erythrolamprus breviceps
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.