Colubridae
Spotted Dagger-tooth Tree Snake
HarmlessRhamnophis batesii
2 photographs of the Spotted Dagger-tooth Tree Snake. (c) Bernard DUPONT, some rights reserved (CC BY).
The Spotted Dagger-tooth Tree Snake (Rhamnophis batesii) is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 6 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Spotted Dagger-tooth Tree Snake
The spotted dagger-tooth tree snake (Rhamnophis batesii) is a species of venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is indigenous to Middle Africa.
Etymology
The specific name, batesii, is in honor of American ornithologist George Latimer Bates.
Geographic range
R. batesii is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of R. batesii is forest, at altitudes from sea level to 1,300 m (4,300 ft).
Description
The holotype of R. batesii has a total length (including tail) of 1.8 m (5.9 ft). The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 13 rows at midbody, and the vertebral row is enlarged.
Behavior
R. batesii is arboreal.
Reproduction
R. batesii is oviparous.
Venom
R. batesii is a rear-fanged colubrid, i.e., it has venom, which it may be able to inoculate by biting. Because very little is known about this species and its venom, it is necessary to be very cautious when working with it. This species has an almost identical defence mechanism to the boomslang (Dispholidus typus) and twig snakes (genus Thelotornis) as they also inflate their throat to make themselves look bigger. It is believed that the species of the genus Rhamnophis evolved between the boomslang and the species of the genus Thrasops in terms of their fangs and means of envenomation.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Spotted Dagger-tooth Tree Snake
- Is the Spotted Dagger-tooth Tree Snake venomous?
- The Spotted Dagger-tooth Tree Snake (Rhamnophis batesii) is rear-fanged and only mildly venomous. It is not considered dangerous to humans (its venom is weak and its fangs sit at the back of the mouth) but a bite can cause local swelling or irritation, so it should not be handled.
- Is the Spotted Dagger-tooth Tree Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Spotted Dagger-tooth Tree Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Spotted Dagger-tooth Tree Snake dangerous?
- The Spotted Dagger-tooth Tree Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Spotted Dagger-tooth Tree Snake live?
- The Spotted Dagger-tooth Tree Snake has verified records in 6 countries, including Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Spotted Dagger-tooth Tree Snake?
- The specific name, batesii, is in honor of American ornithologist George Latimer Bates.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Large-eyed Green TreesnakeRhamnophis aethiopissa
Common Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis
Common WatersnakeNerodia sipedon
Gopher SnakePituophis catenifer
DeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi
North American RacerColuber constrictor
Ring-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus
Western Terrestrial Garter SnakeThamnophis elegans
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
- Rhamnophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Rhamnophis batesii
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.