Colubridae
Southern Ground Snake
HarmlessAtractus trihedrurus
3 photographs of the Southern Ground Snake. (c) Jobernardes, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA).
The Southern Ground Snake (Atractus trihedrurus) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Southern Ground Snake
Atractus trihedrurus is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. In English the species goes by the common name southern ground snake. It eats oligochaete worms.
A. trihedrurus reproduces sexually through oviparity.
It can be found in southern Brazil and is endemic to the Atlantic Forest.
The IUCN lists the A. trihedrurus as least concern, while agricultural and mining have a impacted on the species. This species occurs in protected regions, the habitat decline is very low, and the species has a extent occurrence of around 36,000 km2.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Southern Ground Snake
- Is the Southern Ground Snake venomous?
- No. The Southern Ground Snake (Atractus trihedrurus) 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 Southern Ground Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Southern Ground Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Southern Ground Snake dangerous?
- The Southern Ground Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Southern Ground Snake live?
- The Southern Ground Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Brazil. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Thickhead Ground SnakeAtractus crassicaudatus
Black Ground SnakeAtractus elaps
Three-lined Ground SnakeAtractus trilineatus
Atractus pantostictusAtractus pantostictus
Big Ground SnakeAtractus major
Lasalle's Ground SnakeAtractus lasallei
St. Marta's Ground SnakeAtractus sanctaemartae
Boie's Ground SnakeAtractus badius
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
- Atractus
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Atractus trihedrurus
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.