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Atractaspididae

Yellow-necked Snake-Eater

Harmless

Polemon fulvicollis

No photograph available

The Yellow-necked Snake-Eater (Polemon fulvicollis) is a non-venomous snake in the Atractaspididae family, recorded in 6 countries.

Family
Atractaspididae
Danger
high

About the Yellow-necked Snake-Eater

Polemon fulvicollis, or the African snake-eater, is a species of mildly venomous rear-fanged snake in the family Atractaspididae. It is endemic to Africa.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Yellow-necked Snake-Eater

Is the Yellow-necked Snake-Eater venomous?
No. The Yellow-necked Snake-Eater (Polemon fulvicollis) 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 Yellow-necked Snake-Eater poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Yellow-necked Snake-Eater is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Yellow-necked Snake-Eater dangerous?
The Yellow-necked Snake-Eater is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Yellow-necked Snake-Eater live?
The Yellow-necked Snake-Eater has verified records in 6 countries, including Congo, Democratic Republic of the, Cameroon, Gabon. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

More Atractaspididae 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
Atractaspididae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
Polemon
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
Polemon fulvicollis

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.