Is the Sibynophis grahami venomous?

No. The Sibynophis grahami 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 Sibynophis grahami poisonous?

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

Is the Sibynophis grahami dangerous?

The Sibynophis grahami is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Sibynophis grahami live?

The Sibynophis grahami has verified records in 24 countries, including India, China, Chinese Taipei. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Colubridae

Sibynophis grahami

Harmless

This species has no widely used English common name.

Sibynophis grahami, (c) sixgrowmushroom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

3 photographs of the Sibynophis grahami. (c) sixgrowmushroom, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

Sibynophis grahami is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 24 countries.

Family: Colubridae

About the Sibynophis grahami

The Sibynophis grahami belongs to the Colubridae family, colubrids. The largest snake family, and the one most snakes you meet belong to.

Colubridae is by far the biggest family of snakes, with roughly two thousand species worldwide. It is a catch-all of mostly slender, agile, day-active snakes: ratsnakes, kingsnakes, gartersnakes, watersnakes, racers, whipsnakes, and hundreds more. The vast majority are harmless to people and kill prey by grabbing or constricting rather than with venom.

Its genus, Sibynophis, covers Many-toothed snakes (black-headed snakes). Slender, fast-moving Asian colubrids named for the unusually high number of tiny teeth packed into their jaws.

The Sibynophis grahami 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 24 countries, including India, China, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

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

Frequently asked: Sibynophis grahami

Is the Sibynophis grahami venomous?: No. The Sibynophis grahami 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 Sibynophis grahami poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Sibynophis grahami is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Sibynophis grahami dangerous?: The Sibynophis grahami is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Sibynophis grahami live?: The Sibynophis grahami has verified records in 24 countries, including India, China, Chinese Taipei. See the distribution section below for its full range.

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: Sibynophis
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Sibynophis grahami

Keep learning

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