Psammophiidae
West African Whip Snake
HarmlessPsammophis afroccidentalis
2 photographs of the West African Whip Snake. © Lucy Keith-Diagne.
The West African Whip Snake (Psammophis afroccidentalis) is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous snake in the Psammophiidae family, recorded in 13 countries.
- Family
- Psammophiidae
About the West African Whip Snake
The West African Whip Snake belongs to the Psammophiidae family, sand & grass snakes. Fast, slender, day-active snakes of open country.
Psammophiids are alert, fast-moving snakes of grasslands and deserts, including the sand racers and the Montpellier snakes. Many are rear-fanged. They often raise the head to scan for prey and can move at surprising speed.
Its genus, Psammophis, covers sand snakes. Fast, slender African and Asian racers built for hot open ground, mildly venomous but not considered dangerous to people.
The West African Whip Snake is rear-fanged and only mildly venomous. It is not considered dangerous to people, but like any wild snake it is best observed from a distance and left undisturbed.
It has been recorded across 13 countries, including Nigeria, Mauritania, Senegal, Benin and Guinea.
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: West African Whip Snake
- Is the West African Whip Snake venomous?
- The West African Whip Snake (Psammophis afroccidentalis) 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 Whip Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The West African Whip Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the West African Whip Snake dangerous?
- The West African Whip 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 Whip Snake live?
- The West African Whip Snake has verified records in 13 countries, including Nigeria, Mauritania, Senegal. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Psammophiidae snakes
Stripe-bellied Sand SnakePsammophis subtaeniatus
Karoo Sand SnakePsammophis notostictus
Cross-marked Sand SnakePsammophis crucifer
Forskal Sand SnakePsammophis schokari
Olive Whip SnakePsammophis mossambicus
Short-snouted Whip SnakePsammophis brevirostris
Cape Sand SnakePsammophis leightoni
Eastern Stripe-bellied Sand SnakePsammophis orientalis
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
- Psammophiidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Psammophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Psammophis afroccidentalis
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. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.