Cyclocoridae
Banded Philippine Burrowing Snake
HarmlessOxyrhabdium leporinum
2 photographs of the Banded Philippine Burrowing Snake. (c) Jay Paroline, some rights reserved (CC BY).
The Banded Philippine Burrowing Snake (Oxyrhabdium leporinum) is a non-venomous snake in the Cyclocoridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Cyclocoridae
About the Banded Philippine Burrowing Snake
Oxyrhabdium leporinum, known as Günther's Philippine shrub snake, is a species of snake in the family Cyclocoridae. It is endemic to the Philippines, where it is found on the islands of Luzon, Mindoro, Cebu, Negros, and Panay.
It was first described in 1858 by Albert Günther, as Rhabdosoma leporinum, in his Catalogue of Colubrine snakes of the British Museum. The type locality is "near the headwaters of Maite River, appr. 3,000 feet, Cuernos de Negros, Negros Oriental Province, Negros Island, Philippines". It is considered a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to its large population, tolerance of some habitat degradation, and its broad distribution, though the subspecies Oxyrhabdium leporinum visayanum may be threatened.
Two subspecies are recognized:
Oxyrhabdium leporinum leporinum (Günther, 1858)
Oxyrhabdium leporinum visayanum Leviton, 1958
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Banded Philippine Burrowing Snake
- Is the Banded Philippine Burrowing Snake venomous?
- No. The Banded Philippine Burrowing Snake (Oxyrhabdium leporinum) 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 Philippine Burrowing Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Banded Philippine Burrowing Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Banded Philippine Burrowing Snake dangerous?
- The Banded Philippine Burrowing Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Banded Philippine Burrowing Snake live?
- The Banded Philippine Burrowing Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Philippines. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Cyclocoridae snakes
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
- Cyclocoridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Oxyrhabdium
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Oxyrhabdium leporinum
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.