Colubridae
Banded kukri snake
HarmlessOligodon arnensis






6 photographs of the Banded kukri snake. © vaazhaikumar.
The Banded kukri snake (Oligodon arnensis) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 7 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Banded kukri snake
There are two species of snake named banded kukri snake:
Oligodon arnensis
Oligodon signatus
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Banded kukri snake
- Is the Banded kukri snake venomous?
- No. The Banded kukri snake (Oligodon arnensis) 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 Banded kukri snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Banded kukri snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Banded kukri snake dangerous?
- The Banded kukri snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Banded kukri snake live?
- The Banded kukri snake has verified records in 7 countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Taiwan Kukri SnakeOligodon formosanus
Small-banded Kukri SnakeOligodon fasciolatus
Streaked Kukri SnakeOligodon taeniolatus
Eight-striped Kukri SnakeOligodon octolineatus
Striped Kukri SnakeOligodon taeniatus
Chinese Kukri SnakeOligodon chinensis
Brown Kukri SnakeOligodon purpurascens
Black Cross-barred Kukri SnakeOligodon cinereus
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
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Oligodon
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Oligodon arnensis
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.