Colubridae
Chinese Tiger Keelback
VenomousRhabdophis lateralis
6 photographs of the Chinese Tiger Keelback. © Ольга Зеленова.
The Chinese Tiger Keelback (Rhabdophis lateralis) is a venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 4 countries.
If you are bitten
This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
- Family
- Colubridae
- Danger
- high
About the Chinese Tiger Keelback
The Chinese Tiger Keelback belongs to the Colubridae family, colubrids. The largest snake family, and the one most snakes you meet belong to.
Colubridae is by far the biggest family of snakes, with roughly two thousand species worldwide. It is a catch-all of mostly slender, agile, day-active snakes: ratsnakes, kingsnakes, gartersnakes, watersnakes, racers, whipsnakes, and hundreds more. The vast majority are harmless to people and kill prey by grabbing or constricting rather than with venom.
Its genus, Rhabdophis, covers keelbacks. Asian keelbacks look like harmless water snakes but carry two separate weapon systems, including borrowed toad toxins stored in the neck.
The Chinese Tiger Keelback is venomous. Treat any bite as a medical emergency, do not try to handle or capture the snake, and get professional medical care right away.
It has been recorded in Korea, Republic of, China, the Russian Federation and Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of).
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Chinese Tiger Keelback
- Is the Chinese Tiger Keelback venomous?
- Yes. The Chinese Tiger Keelback (Rhabdophis lateralis) is venomous and belongs to the Colubridae family (keelback (rear-fanged)). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.
- Is the Chinese Tiger Keelback poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Chinese Tiger Keelback is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Chinese Tiger Keelback dangerous?
- This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
- Where does the Chinese Tiger Keelback live?
- The Chinese Tiger Keelback has verified records in 4 countries, including Korea, Republic of, China, Russian Federation. See the distribution section below for its full range.
If you are bitten by the Chinese Tiger Keelback
Do
- Get away from the snake and stay calm. Most bites worsen when people panic or try again to handle the snake.
- Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. Antivenom works best when given early.
- Note the time of the bite and, from a safe distance, the snake's color and pattern, a phone photo is enough. Do not chase it.
- Keep the bitten limb still and at roughly heart level. Sit or lie down and limit movement.
- Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
- Gently wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.
Do not
- Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom.
- Do not apply a tourniquet or ice.
- Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.
- Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, they can worsen bleeding. Acetaminophen is safer for pain.
- Do not try to catch or kill the snake. A dead snake can still bite by reflex.
First-aid guidance adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC NIOSH), Venomous Snakes. Educational only; always follow the instructions of emergency responders.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Heller's Red-necked KeelbackRhabdophis helleri
Tiger KeelbackRhabdophis tigrinus
Siamese Red-necked KeelbackRhabdophis siamensis
Specklebelly KeelbackRhabdophis chrysargos
Green KeelbackRhabdophis plumbicolor
Banded KeelbackRhabdophis nigrocinctus
Taiwan tiger keelbackRhabdophis formosanus
Red-necked KeelbackRhabdophis subminiatus
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
- Rhabdophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Rhabdophis lateralis
Keep learning
- Are Snakes Dangerous? The Real Risk, in PerspectiveMost snakes are harmless and avoid people. Here is the honest picture of snakebite risk worldwide and how to lower your own.
- Snakebite First Aid: What to Do (and What Never to Do)A clear, CDC-based guide to snakebite first aid: the steps that help, the popular myths that hurt, and how to tell a serious bite from a minor one.
- 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 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.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.