Colubridae
Banded Wolf Snake
HarmlessLycodon fasciatus
6 photographs of the Banded Wolf Snake. © Ian Dugdale.
The Banded Wolf Snake (Lycodon fasciatus) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 9 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Banded Wolf Snake
Lycodon fasciatus, commonly known as the banded wolf snake, is a species of colubrid snake.
Distribution
It is found in India (Assam), Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Tibet, SW China (from Yunnan and Guangxi to Hubei, northward to Shaanxi and Gansu, Fujian, Sichuan).
Description
Adults may attain 53 cm (21 inches) in total length, with a tail 11 cm (4¼ inches) long.
Its color pattern consists of broad purplish-black rings which encircle its body and are separated by yellowish or reddish intervals. The first black ring does not encircle the neck.
The dorsal scales are in 17 rows, weakly keeled anteriorly, the keels becoming more pronounced posteriorly. The ventrals are 205–213; the anal is entire; and the divided subcaudals are 77–90.
Photos
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Banded Wolf Snake
- Is the Banded Wolf Snake venomous?
- No. The Banded Wolf Snake (Lycodon fasciatus) 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 Wolf Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Banded Wolf Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Banded Wolf Snake dangerous?
- The Banded Wolf Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Banded Wolf Snake live?
- The Banded Wolf Snake has verified records in 9 countries, including Viet Nam, Thailand, China. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae 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
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Lycodon
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Lycodon fasciatus
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.