VU

Schouteden's Sun Snake

Helophis schoutedeni

Declining

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Helophis schoutedeni faces significant pressure from agricultural expansion and logging activities that fragment and degrade its forest habitat across Central Africa. The species' limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized habitat destruction, while collection for the international reptile trade poses an additional threat to remaining populations.

Threat summary

Habitat

This semi-aquatic snake inhabits tropical rainforests and gallery forests in Central Africa, particularly favoring areas near streams, rivers, and wetland margins. It requires dense canopy cover and is typically found in primary and secondary forest habitats with adequate moisture levels.

Forest· majorWetlands (inland) - Permanent rivers/streams· majorWetlands (inland) - Bogs, marshes, swamps, fens· major

Conservation measures underway

Site/area protection

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Schouteden's Sun Snake classified as Vulnerable?
Schouteden's Sun Snake is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. Helophis schoutedeni faces significant pressure from agricultural expansion and logging activities that fragment and degrade its forest habitat across Central Africa. The species' limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized habitat destruction, while collection for the international reptile trade poses an additional threat to remaining populations.
Where does Schouteden's Sun Snake live?
Schouteden's Sun Snake occurs in Congo - Brazzaville, and Congo - Kinshasa. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Schouteden's Sun Snake?
The main threats to Schouteden's Sun Snake are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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