Taczanowsky's Dwarf Boa

About the Taczanowsky's Dwarf Boa

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Taczanowsky's Dwarf Boa

Is the Taczanowsky's Dwarf Boa venomous?

No. The Taczanowsky's Dwarf Boa (Tropidophis taczanowskyi) 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 Taczanowsky's Dwarf Boa poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Taczanowsky's Dwarf Boa is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Taczanowsky's Dwarf Boa dangerous?

The Taczanowsky's Dwarf Boa is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Taczanowsky's Dwarf Boa live?

The Taczanowsky's Dwarf Boa has verified records in 3 countries, including Ecuador, Peru, Argentina. See the distribution section below for its full range.

What does the Taczanowsky's Dwarf Boa eat?

Taczanowski's dwarf boa preys upon frogs.

Why is it called the Taczanowsky's Dwarf Boa?

Both the specific name, taczanowskyi, and the common name, Taczanowski's dwarf boa, are in honor of Polish zoologist Władysław Taczanowski.

Where it is found

More Tropidophiidae snakes

• 
  Northern Eyelash Boa
  Tropidophis boulengeri
• 
  Cuban Dwarf Boa
  Tropidophis melanurus
• 
  Haitian Dwarf Boa
  Tropidophis haetianus
• 
  Cayman Islands Dwarf Boa
  Tropidophis caymanensis
• 
  Northern Bahamas Trope
  Tropidophis curtus
• 
  Ambergris Cay Dwarf Boa
  Tropidophis greenwayi
• 
  Brazilian Dwarf Boa
  Tropidophis paucisquamis
• 
  Spotted Brown Trope
  Tropidophis pardalis

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

Tropidophiidae

GenusA close-knit group of very similar species

Tropidophis

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

Tropidophis taczanowskyi

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.