West African Cat Snake

About the West African Cat Snake

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: West African Cat Snake

Is the West African Cat Snake venomous?

The West African Cat Snake (Telescopus variegatus) is rear-fanged and only mildly venomous. It is not considered dangerous to humans (its venom is weak and its fangs sit at the back of the mouth) but a bite can cause local swelling or irritation, so it should not be handled.

Is the West African Cat Snake poisonous?

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

Is the West African Cat Snake dangerous?

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

Where does the West African Cat Snake live?

The West African Cat Snake has verified records in 17 countries, including Benin, Ghana, Nigeria. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

More Colubridae snakes

• 
  Cat Snake
  Telescopus fallax
• 
  Common Tiger Snake
  Telescopus semiannulatus
• 
  Arabian Cat Snake
  Telescopus dhara
• 
  Karoo Tiger Snake
  Telescopus beetzi
• 
  North African Catsnake
  Telescopus tripolitanus
• 
  Hoogstraal's catsnake
  Telescopus hoogstraali
• 
  Blue Nile Cat Snake
  Telescopus gezirae
• 
  Soosan Tiger Snake
  Telescopus tessellatus

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

Telescopus

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

Telescopus variegatus

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.