Colubridae
Xenopholis werdingorum
HarmlessThis species has no widely used English common name.
2 photographs of the Xenopholis werdingorum. (c) tille, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
Xenopholis werdingorum is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Xenopholis werdingorum
Xenopholis werdingorum is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to South America.
Etymology
The specific name, werdingorum (genitive, plural), is in honor of the Werding family of Bolivia, on whose hacienda the holotype was collected.
Taxonomy
X. werdingorum is the most recently described (2009) of the three species in the genus Xenopholis.
Geographic range
X. werdingorum is found in Bolivia (Santa Cruz Department) and adjacent Brazil.
Description
Dorsally X. werdingorum is uniformly dark brown with an iridescent sheen. Ventrally, it is yellowish orange. The color transition on the flanks is gradual. Adults have a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about 40 cm (16 in), with a tail about 5 cm (2.0 in) long.
Reproduction
The mode of reproduction of X. werdingorum is unknown.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Xenopholis werdingorum
- Is the Xenopholis werdingorum venomous?
- No. The Xenopholis werdingorum 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 Xenopholis werdingorum poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Xenopholis werdingorum is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Xenopholis werdingorum dangerous?
- The Xenopholis werdingorum is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Xenopholis werdingorum live?
- The Xenopholis werdingorum has verified records in 1 country, including Bolivia (Plurinational State of). 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 werdingorum
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Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.