Hoffmann's Earth Snake

Hoffmann's Earth Snake

Geophis hoffmanni

Silhouette: Alex Slavenko · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at San José

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~50%

20 Verified sightings at San José
22 In all 3 parks From 2019 to 2026
November Best month
☀️🌙 Day & Night When it's spotted

About the Hoffmann's Earth Snake

Geophis hoffmanni, also known commonly as Hoffmann's earth snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to Central America. The specific name, hoffmanni, is in honor of German naturalist Karl Hoffmann.

G. hoffmanni is found in Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. The preferred natural habitat of G. hoffmanni is forest, at altitudes of 18–2,100 m (59–6,890 ft), but it is also found in disturbed areas such as farms and gardens.

A small species of snake, the holotype of G. hoffmanni has a total length (including tail) of 24.5 cm (9.6 in) (W. Peters, 1859). The dorsal scales are arranged in 15 rows throughout the length of the body. There are five or fewer upper labials, and the posterior chin shields contact each other. The ventrals number 114–131, and the subcaudals number 23–32. Adults are uniformly dark brown or black dorsally, and are white or cream-colored ventrally. Juveniles have a paler nuchal collar.

G. hoffmanni is terrestrial and secretive, sheltering under logs and rocks. G. hoffmanni is oviparous. ��2... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
2 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
3 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 San José 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Hoffmann's Earth Snake in San José?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Hoffmann's Earth Snake sighting in San José on a given day, based on 20 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 11th most-seen of the 24 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Hoffmann's Earth Snake in San José?

November

In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Hoffmann's Earth Snake in San José on a given day, against under 5% in January to April, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Hoffmann's Earth Snake?

Between 7 and 10 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Hoffmann's Earth Snake sightings with a recorded time, and about 6 in 10 of them come between 6 pm and 6 am: it is seen both by day and at night.

Where else can you see a Hoffmann's Earth Snake?

Only San José, in our data

San José is the only city on Wallace's Line with enough records to rate Hoffmann's Earth Snake sightings: about 10% of wildlife watchers there report one on a given day.

Which relatives of the Hoffmann's Earth Snake live in San José?

Same family: Colubridae

The closest relatives of the Hoffmann's Earth Snake that you can see in San José (family Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes) are Spotted Coffee Snake (about 10%), Green Rat Snake (about 10%) and Rhombic Cat-eyed Snake (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Hoffmann's Earth Snake sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Hoffmann's Earth Snake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in San José (20 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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