Diadem snakes Spalerosophis diadema are medium-large (120-140cm, up to 200cm), harmless colubrine snakes with an extensive range in northern Africa, Western Asia, Central Asia, and into South Asia, from the Atlantic Coasts of Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal north and east into south-central Kazakhstan and northern India (see range map for details), from sea level up to 2,000m. They inhabit arid and semi-arid areas with sandy and/or rocky soils, including desert flats, semi-desert grassland, coastal dune systems, wadis, oases, and alongside agricultural zones.
S. diadema are largely diurnal, but will switch to crepuscular or nocturnal activity during the heat of the summer months. They are active and swift moving snakes, and their prey consists of rodents and other small mammals, lizards, small birds, and snakes. They utilize their speed to evade predators, including humans, but can bite when seized. Nonetheless, their bites are not dangerous and can be easily disinfected by washing the site with gentle soap and warm water (alternatively, hand sanitizer is also effective).
S. diadema have weakly keeled dorsal scales arranged in 25-33 rows at midbody. The head is fairly large; the eyes are large and positioned slightly dorsally. The scales on the face are small, fragmented, and numerous, with 10-14 supralabials, 2-6 loreal scales, 2-4 preoculars, 3-5 postoculars, and a full row of subocular scales that completely separate the supralabials from the eye. The anal scale is single.
Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes Diadophis are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; severe envenomation can occur if some species are allowed to chew on a human for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes Thamnophis ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also considered harmless. Check out this book on the subject. Even large species like Reticulated Pythons Malayopython reticulatusrarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans so are usually categorized as harmless.
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Diadem Snake, Spalerosophis diadema. It is !harmless!
Diadem snakes Spalerosophis diadema are medium-large (120-140cm, up to 200cm), harmless colubrine snakes with an extensive range in northern Africa, Western Asia, Central Asia, and into South Asia, from the Atlantic Coasts of Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal north and east into south-central Kazakhstan and northern India (see range map for details), from sea level up to 2,000m. They inhabit arid and semi-arid areas with sandy and/or rocky soils, including desert flats, semi-desert grassland, coastal dune systems, wadis, oases, and alongside agricultural zones.
S. diadema are largely diurnal, but will switch to crepuscular or nocturnal activity during the heat of the summer months. They are active and swift moving snakes, and their prey consists of rodents and other small mammals, lizards, small birds, and snakes. They utilize their speed to evade predators, including humans, but can bite when seized. Nonetheless, their bites are not dangerous and can be easily disinfected by washing the site with gentle soap and warm water (alternatively, hand sanitizer is also effective).
S. diadema have weakly keeled dorsal scales arranged in 25-33 rows at midbody. The head is fairly large; the eyes are large and positioned slightly dorsally. The scales on the face are small, fragmented, and numerous, with 10-14 supralabials, 2-6 loreal scales, 2-4 preoculars, 3-5 postoculars, and a full row of subocular scales that completely separate the supralabials from the eye. The anal scale is single.
Range Map | Reptile Database Account
This short account was written by /u/fairlyorange
Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes Diadophis are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; severe envenomation can occur if some species are allowed to chew on a human for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes Thamnophis ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also considered harmless. Check out this book on the subject. Even large species like Reticulated Pythons Malayopython reticulatus rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans so are usually categorized as harmless.
I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, here report problems here and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that here. This bot, its development, maintenance and use are made possible through the outreach wing of Snake Evolution and Biogeography - Merch Available Now
I thought right away its a python. Do Diadem snakes share similar dna to pythons at all?
In taxonomic terms they are only minimally related, belonging to different families entirely. I can't find any sources suggesting a connection either.
Thank you for replying. I could have just looked it up but for some reason I wanted to hear it from you instead.
I dont think I have heard of/seen this one before. He is really cute.
Reminds me of a corn snake with all those head marks