Colubridae
Brown Whip Snake
HarmlessDryophiops rubescens
6 photographs of the Brown Whip Snake. © drtimk.
The Brown Whip Snake (Dryophiops rubescens) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 9 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Brown Whip Snake
Dryophiops rubescens, commonly known as the red whip snake, is a species of snake in the colubrid family from Southeast Asia.
Taxonomy
Dryophiops rubescens (originally named Dipsas rubescens) is the type species of the genus Dryophiops, which contains only one other species: Dryophiops philippina of the Philippines.
Dryophiops is one of five genera belonging to the vine snake subfamily Ahaetuliinae, of which Dryophiops is most closely related to Ahaetulla and Proahaetulla, as shown in the cladogram below:
Distribution
The species is arboreal, found in forests in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
Description
Dryophiops snakes, along with their close relatives of Ahaetulla and Proahaetulla, all share an elongated and laterally compressed body plan, with elongated sharp snouts, and large eyes with horizontals pupils specialized for binocular vision.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Brown Whip Snake
- Is the Brown Whip Snake venomous?
- No. The Brown Whip Snake (Dryophiops rubescens) 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 Brown Whip Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Brown Whip Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Brown Whip Snake dangerous?
- The Brown Whip Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Brown Whip Snake live?
- The Brown Whip Snake has verified records in 9 countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Philippine DryophiopsDryophiops philippina
Common Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis
Common WatersnakeNerodia sipedon
Gopher SnakePituophis catenifer
DeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi
North American RacerColuber constrictor
Ring-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus
Western Terrestrial Garter SnakeThamnophis elegans
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
- Dryophiops
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Dryophiops rubescens
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.