Colubridae
Tropidodipsas tricolor
HarmlessThis species has no widely used English common name.
Tropidodipsas tricolor is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Tropidodipsas tricolor
Tropidodipsas tricolor, the tricolor snailsucker, is a species of snake in the family, Colubridae. Formally described in 2021, it is named after the tricolor pattern of its dorsal color. It has a black body with 19–22 reddish orange, light-edged bands on the body, with 8 pale bands on the tail. Endemic to Mexico, it is restricted to moderate elevations in Sierra Madre del Sur from central Guerrero to western Oaxaca. It is mostly found at elevations of 1700–2200 m.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Tropidodipsas tricolor
- Is the Tropidodipsas tricolor venomous?
- No. The Tropidodipsas tricolor 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 Tropidodipsas tricolor poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Tropidodipsas tricolor is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Tropidodipsas tricolor dangerous?
- The Tropidodipsas tricolor is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
More Colubridae snakes
Fischer's Snail-Eating SnakeTropidodipsas fischeri
Banded Snail SuckerTropidodipsas fasciata
Philippi’s Snail-Eating SnakeTropidodipsas philippii
Tropidodipsas repletaTropidodipsas repleta
Zweifel’s Snail-Eating SnakeTropidodipsas zweifeli
Tropidodipsas papavericolaTropidodipsas papavericola
Common Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis
Common WatersnakeNerodia sipedon
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
- Tropidodipsas
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Tropidodipsas tricolor
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.