Colubridae
Three-lined Ground Snake
HarmlessAtractus trilineatus
4 photographs of the Three-lined Ground Snake. © w_endo.
The Three-lined Ground Snake (Atractus trilineatus) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 9 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Three-lined Ground Snake
Atractus trilineatus, commonly known as the three-lined ground snake, is a species of small burrowing snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to South America.
Geographic range
A. trilineatus is found in northern South America, including the Caribbean island of Trinidad.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of A. trilineatus is forest and savanna, at altitudes from sea level to 500 m (1,600 ft), but it has also been found in agricultural and horticultural areas.
Description
A. trilineatus may attain a total length of 225 mm (8+3⁄4 in), including a short tail of 15 mm (1⁄2 in). Dorsally, it is brown with three or four darker longitudinal stripes; ventrally it is either uniform white, or has a few brown dots. The smooth dorsal scales are in 15 rows, and the anal plate is entire. The ventrals number 125–150, and subcaudals only 11–19.
Diet
A. trilineatus is believed to prey upon soft-bodied insects and earthworms, as well as fish and tadpoles.
Reproduction
A. trilineatus is oviparous. Eggs are laid in March, May and August, and clutch size is three to five eggs.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Three-lined Ground Snake
- Is the Three-lined Ground Snake venomous?
- No. The Three-lined Ground Snake (Atractus trilineatus) 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 Three-lined Ground Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Three-lined Ground Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Three-lined Ground Snake dangerous?
- The Three-lined Ground Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Three-lined Ground Snake live?
- The Three-lined Ground Snake has verified records in 9 countries, including Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Brazil. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Three-lined Ground Snake eat?
- A. trilineatus is believed to prey upon soft-bodied insects and earthworms, as well as fish and tadpoles.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Thickhead Ground SnakeAtractus crassicaudatus
Black Ground SnakeAtractus elaps
Atractus pantostictusAtractus pantostictus
Big Ground SnakeAtractus major
Lasalle's Ground SnakeAtractus lasallei
St. Marta's Ground SnakeAtractus sanctaemartae
Boie's Ground SnakeAtractus badius
Lehmann's Ground SnakeAtractus lehmanni
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
- Atractus
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Atractus trilineatus
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.