Is the Sumatran Mud Snake venomous?

No. The Sumatran Mud Snake (Sumatranus albomaculata) 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 Sumatran Mud Snake poisonous?

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

Is the Sumatran Mud Snake dangerous?

The Sumatran Mud Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Sumatran Mud Snake live?

The Sumatran Mud Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Indonesia. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Homalopsidae

Sumatran Mud Snake

Harmless

Sumatranus albomaculata

2 photographs of the Sumatran Mud Snake. (c) brechtheusequin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).

The Sumatran Mud Snake (Sumatranus albomaculata) is a non-venomous snake in the Homalopsidae family, recorded in 1 country.

Family: Homalopsidae

About the Sumatran Mud Snake

The Sumatran Mud Snake belongs to the Homalopsidae family, mud & water snakes. Aquatic, mud-dwelling snakes with upward-facing eyes and nostrils.

Homalopsids are aquatic and semi-aquatic snakes of muddy waters, with valved nostrils and eyes set high on the head for life at the surface. Many are rear-fanged. They feed on fish, frogs, and crustaceans.

Its genus, Sumatranus, covers Sumatran mud snake. A little-known Southeast Asian mud snake in the family of rear-fanged, mostly aquatic homalopsids.

The Sumatran Mud 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 in Indonesia.

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

Frequently asked: Sumatran Mud Snake

Is the Sumatran Mud Snake venomous?: No. The Sumatran Mud Snake (Sumatranus albomaculata) 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 Sumatran Mud Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Sumatran Mud Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Sumatran Mud Snake dangerous?: The Sumatran Mud Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Sumatran Mud Snake live?: The Sumatran Mud Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Indonesia. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

Indonesia

More Homalopsidae 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: Homalopsidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Sumatranus
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Sumatranus albomaculata

Keep learning

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