Colubridae
Variegated Snail-eater
HarmlessDipsas variegata
3 photographs of the Variegated Snail-eater. © Zac Peterson.
The Variegated Snail-eater (Dipsas variegata) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Variegated Snail-eater
Dipsas variegata, the variegated snail-eater, is a snake found in South America. It is reported to feed almost exclusively on tree snails and slugs.
Dipsas trinitatis, the Trinidad snail-eater from Trinidad and Tobago, has sometimes been considered a subspecies of Dipsas variegata (Dipsas variegata trinitatis).
Reproduction
Oviparous
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Variegated Snail-eater
- Is the Variegated Snail-eater venomous?
- No. The Variegated Snail-eater (Dipsas variegata) 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 Variegated Snail-eater poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Variegated Snail-eater is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Variegated Snail-eater dangerous?
- The Variegated Snail-eater is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
More Colubridae 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
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Dipsas
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Dipsas variegata
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.