Is the South African Shovel-snout venomous?

No. The South African Shovel-snout (Prosymna sundevalli) 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 South African Shovel-snout poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The South African Shovel-snout is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the South African Shovel-snout dangerous?

The South African Shovel-snout is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the South African Shovel-snout live?

The South African Shovel-snout has verified records in 4 countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Prosymnidae

South African Shovel-snout

Harmless

Prosymna sundevalli

South African Shovel-snout — Prosymna sundevalli, © Justin Ponder

6 photographs of the South African Shovel-snout. © Justin Ponder.

The South African Shovel-snout (Prosymna sundevalli) is a non-venomous snake in the Prosymnidae family, recorded in 4 countries.

Family: Prosymnidae

About the South African Shovel-snout

The South African Shovel-snout belongs to the Prosymnidae family, shovel-snout snakes. Burrowing African egg-eaters with a wedge-shaped snout.

Shovel-snout snakes are small fossorial snakes that use a sharp, shovel-like snout to dig and that specialize in eating reptile eggs underground. They are harmless and seldom seen.

Its genus, Prosymna, covers shovel-snout snakes. Small African burrowing snakes named for the hard, shovel-shaped snout they use to dig through soil after reptile eggs.

The South African Shovel-snout 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 in South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini.

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

Frequently asked: South African Shovel-snout

Is the South African Shovel-snout venomous?: No. The South African Shovel-snout (Prosymna sundevalli) 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 South African Shovel-snout poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The South African Shovel-snout is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the South African Shovel-snout dangerous?: The South African Shovel-snout is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the South African Shovel-snout live?: The South African Shovel-snout has verified records in 4 countries, including South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

South Africa Namibia Lesotho Eswatini

More Prosymnidae 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: Prosymnidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Prosymna
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Prosymna sundevalli

Keep learning

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