Psammophiidae
Stripe-bellied Sand Snake
HarmlessPsammophis subtaeniatus
6 photographs of the Stripe-bellied Sand Snake. © Shedron Mukhumo.
The Stripe-bellied Sand Snake (Psammophis subtaeniatus) is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous snake in the Psammophiidae family, recorded in 18 countries.
- Family
- Psammophiidae
About the Stripe-bellied Sand Snake
Psammophis subtaeniatus, the western yellow-bellied sand snake, is a snake found in northern Southern Africa; more specifically the north of KwaZulu-Natal and further north to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, and Eswatini. It is also found in eastern and northern Botswana, northern Namibia, Angola, and Zambia.
It is also known as the striped sand snake and in Afrikaans as the westelike streeppenssandslang.
The snake is oviparous and lays 4 to 10 eggs in summer. The young are about 20 cm long when they hatch. The snake's venom is not considered harmful and poses no danger to humans.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Stripe-bellied Sand Snake
- Is the Stripe-bellied Sand Snake venomous?
- The Stripe-bellied Sand Snake (Psammophis subtaeniatus) 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 Stripe-bellied Sand Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Stripe-bellied Sand Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Stripe-bellied Sand Snake dangerous?
- The Stripe-bellied Sand Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Stripe-bellied Sand Snake live?
- The Stripe-bellied Sand Snake has verified records in 18 countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Psammophiidae snakes
Karoo Sand SnakePsammophis notostictus
Cross-marked Sand SnakePsammophis crucifer
Forskal Sand SnakePsammophis schokari
Olive Whip SnakePsammophis mossambicus
Short-snouted Whip SnakePsammophis brevirostris
Cape Sand SnakePsammophis leightoni
Eastern Stripe-bellied Sand SnakePsammophis orientalis
Steppe Ribbon RacerPsammophis lineolatus
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
- Psammophiidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Psammophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Psammophis subtaeniatus
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.