Colubridae
White-headed snake
HarmlessEnuliophis sclateri
4 photographs of the White-headed snake. © David A. Rodríguez Arias.
The White-headed snake (Enuliophis sclateri) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 6 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the White-headed snake
The Colombian longtail snake (Enuliophis sclateri), also known commonly as the sock-headed snake and the white-headed snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to the humid forests of Central America and northern South America.
Taxonomy and etymology
The species was first described by George Albert Boulenger in 1894 under the name Leptocalamus sciateri. The species was later placed in Enulius, and remained there until 1993, when James R. McCranie and Jaime Villa designated the species as the sole member of the new genus Enuliophis, which as of 2026 remains monotypic.
The name Enuliophis is derived from the Greek words hen (one), oule (scar or mark) and ophis (snake), and is allusion to the genus Enulius, the species of which, according to James R. McCranie, Enuliophis sciateri shares a resemblance with.
The specific name, sclateri, is in honor of British zoologist Philip Lutley Sclater, who donated the holotype to the British Museum (Natural History), where Boulenger worked.
Distribution and habitat
E. sclateri can be found in the humid forests of Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia, at elevations ranging from sea level to 1,640 m (5,380 ft).
Description and behaviour
E. sclateri can reach lengths of 55–70 cm (22–28 in), and has a long, thick tail that makes up 37–42% of the total length of the snake. The snake's belly is pale grey while its back is sleet grey to black or blue-black, with the dark colouration being broken up by a white or pale yellow collar. The snake has 129–151 ventral scales and 96–103 subcaudal scales.
E. sclateri is known to exhibit both diurnality and nocturnality.
Reproduction
E. sclateri is oviparous.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: White-headed snake
- Is the White-headed snake venomous?
- No. The White-headed snake (Enuliophis sclateri) 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 White-headed snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The White-headed snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the White-headed snake dangerous?
- The White-headed snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the White-headed snake live?
- The White-headed snake has verified records in 6 countries, including Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the White-headed snake?
- The species was first described by George Albert Boulenger in 1894 under the name Leptocalamus sciateri. The species was later placed in Enulius, and remained there until 1993, when James R. McCranie and Jaime Villa designated the species as the sole member of the new genus Enuliophis, which as of 2026 remains monotypic. The name Enuliophis is derived from the Greek words hen (one), oule (scar or mark) and ophis (snake), and is allusion to the genus Enulius, the species of which, according to James R. McCranie, Enuliophis sciateri shares a resemblance with.
Where it is found
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
- Enuliophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Enuliophis sclateri
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.