St Lucia Racer

About the St Lucia Racer

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: St Lucia Racer

Is the St Lucia Racer venomous?

No. The St Lucia Racer (Erythrolamprus ornatus) 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 St Lucia Racer poisonous?

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

Is the St Lucia Racer dangerous?

The St Lucia Racer is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the St Lucia Racer live?

The St Lucia Racer has verified records in 3 countries, including Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of). See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

More Colubridae snakes

• 
  Yellow-bellied Liophis
  Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus
• 
  Military Ground Snake
  Erythrolamprus miliaris
• 
  Fire-bellied Snake
  Erythrolamprus epinephalus
• 
  Black-backed Snake
  Erythrolamprus melanotus
• 
  Aesculapian False Coral Snake
  Erythrolamprus aesculapii
• 
  Double-banded Coral Snake Mimic
  Erythrolamprus bizona
• 
  Royal Ground Snake
  Erythrolamprus reginae
• 
  Velvet Swampsnake
  Erythrolamprus typhlus

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

Erythrolamprus

SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name

Erythrolamprus ornatus

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.