Colubridae
Sooty Black-striped Snake
HarmlessConiophanes piceivittis






6 photographs of the Sooty Black-striped Snake. © Arabella Willing.
The Sooty Black-striped Snake (Coniophanes piceivittis) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 7 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Sooty Black-striped Snake
Coniophanes piceivittis, known commonly as Cope's black-striped snake, is a species of small snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Central America and Mexico, and is found in a wide range of habitats.
Geographic range
C. piceivittis is found in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, southern Mexico, and Nicaragua.
Reproduction
C. piceivittis is oviparous.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Coniophanes piceivittis frangivirgatus J. Peters, 1950
Coniophanes piceivittis piceivittis Cope, 1869
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Sooty Black-striped Snake
- Is the Sooty Black-striped Snake venomous?
- No. The Sooty Black-striped Snake (Coniophanes piceivittis) 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 Sooty Black-striped Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Sooty Black-striped Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Sooty Black-striped Snake dangerous?
- The Sooty Black-striped Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Sooty Black-striped Snake live?
- The Sooty Black-striped Snake has verified records in 7 countries, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Black-striped SnakeConiophanes imperialis
Brown Spotbelly SnakeConiophanes fissidens
Faded Black-striped SnakeConiophanes schmidti
Peninsula Stripeless SnakeConiophanes meridanus
Peters' Running SnakeConiophanes dromiciformis
Two-spotted SnakeConiophanes bipunctatus
Stripeless SnakeConiophanes lateritius
Five-striped SnakeConiophanes quinquevittatus
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
- Coniophanes
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Coniophanes piceivittis
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.