Colubridae
Wucherer's Ground Snake
HarmlessXenopholis scalaris






6 photographs of the Wucherer's Ground Snake. © Paulo Mascaretti.
The Wucherer's Ground Snake (Xenopholis scalaris) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 8 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Wucherer's Ground Snake
Xenopholis scalaris, also known as Wucherer's ground snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to South America.
Geographic range
Xenopholis scalaris is found in Amazonian Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru. Other locality records include Colombia, French Guiana, and Venezuela.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Wucherer's Ground Snake
- Is the Wucherer's Ground Snake venomous?
- No. The Wucherer's Ground Snake (Xenopholis scalaris) 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 Wucherer's Ground Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Wucherer's Ground Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Wucherer's Ground Snake dangerous?
- The Wucherer's Ground Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Wucherer's Ground Snake live?
- The Wucherer's Ground Snake has verified records in 8 countries, including Brazil, Peru, Ecuador. See the distribution section below for its full range.
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
- Xenopholis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Xenopholis scalaris
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.







