Is the Speckled wolf snake venomous?

No. The Speckled wolf snake (Lycophidion meleagre) 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 Speckled wolf snake poisonous?

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

Is the Speckled wolf snake dangerous?

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

Lamprophiidae

Speckled wolf snake

Harmless

Lycophidion meleagre

2 photographs of the Speckled wolf snake. (c) Tim Brammer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

The Speckled wolf snake (Lycophidion meleagre) is a non-venomous snake in the Lamprophiidae family, recorded in 7 countries.

Family: Lamprophiidae

About the Speckled wolf snake

The Speckled wolf snake belongs to the Lamprophiidae family, african house snakes & allies. Common African snakes, including the familiar house snakes.

Lamprophiids are a largely African family that includes the house snakes often found around dwellings, where they hunt rodents, plus wolf snakes and many others. Most are non-venomous or only mildly rear-fanged.

Its genus, Lycophidion, covers wolf snakes (African). Small, secretive African snakes with recurved teeth built for gripping hard-scaled lizards.

The Speckled wolf snake 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 7 countries, including Benin, Tanzania, United Republic of, Angola, Cameroon and Kenya.

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

Frequently asked: Speckled wolf snake

Is the Speckled wolf snake venomous?: No. The Speckled wolf snake (Lycophidion meleagre) 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 Speckled wolf snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Speckled wolf snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Speckled wolf snake dangerous?: The Speckled wolf snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Speckled wolf snake live?: The Speckled wolf snake has verified records in 7 countries, including Benin, Tanzania, United Republic of, Angola. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

Benin Tanzania, United Republic of Angola Cameroon Kenya Malawi Niger

More Lamprophiidae 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: Lamprophiidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Lycophidion
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Lycophidion meleagre

Keep learning

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