Genus · Colubridae
Colubroelaps
The genus Colubroelaps contains a single species. It is not considered dangerous to humans.
About Nguyen Van Sang's snake
A rare, worm-like Southeast Asian colubrid known from only a single described species.
Colubroelaps is a tiny genus in the large family Colubridae, the group that holds the majority of the world's snake species. It was erected for a single species, Colubroelaps nguyenvansangi, Nguyen Van Sang's snake, described from southern Vietnam. As a colubrid it sits among the typical, non-front-fanged snakes rather than the cobras and their relatives, despite a slender, elongate body plan that can look superficially like a small elapid or a burrowing reed snake.
Members are known from the forests and leaf litter of mainland Southeast Asia. Like many small, secretive colubrids in this region, they are tied to moist ground cover, soil, and decaying vegetation where they spend much of their time hidden. Because the genus is represented by so few specimens, much of its natural history is inferred from close relatives and the regional habitat rather than from direct, repeated observation.
In general terms these are small, smooth-scaled, slender snakes with reduced eyes suited to a semi-fossorial, leaf-litter life. There is no evidence that Colubroelaps poses any danger to people, and it is not a front-fanged venomous snake. As with any wild snake, the responsible approach is to observe and not handle, and to leave identification of unfamiliar snakes to local experts. If a bite from any snake occurs, contact emergency services or, in the US, Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Small ground colubrids like this are best understood as harmless components of the forest floor ecosystem, likely feeding on small invertebrates and laying eggs as most colubrids do.
Colubroelaps belongs to the Colubridae family (Colubrids). The largest snake family, and the one most snakes you meet belong to. Typically round pupils, a head only slightly wider than the neck, and no heat-sensing facial pit or rattle. Scales may be smooth and glossy or keeled and matte depending on the species.
Danger: Almost all colubrids are harmless. A small number are rear-fanged with medically significant venom, the boomslang and the twig (vine) snakes of Africa being the dangerous exceptions. Most colubrids will flee or bluff rather than bite.
All species (1)
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