Colubridae
Heller's Red-necked Keelback
VenomousRhabdophis helleri
4 photographs of the Heller's Red-necked Keelback. © jzfu.
The Heller's Red-necked Keelback (Rhabdophis helleri) is a venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 10 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 Heller's Red-necked Keelback
Rhabdophis helleri, also known commonly as Heller’s red-necked keelback, is a venomous species of keelback snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to South Asia.
Etymology
The specific name, helleri, is in honor of American zoologist Edmund Heller.
Geographic range
R. helleri is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hong Kong, Sichuan, Yunnan), India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Sikkim, Tripura), Myanmar, Nepal, and northern Vietnam.
Type locality: Tengyueh, 5500 feet elevation, Province of
Yunnan, China, 25°01'N, 98°30'E.
Description
A medium-sized snake, R. helleri may attain a total length (including tail) of 1.3 m (4.3 ft). It has 163–172 ventrals.
Reproduction
R. helleri is oviparous.
Venom
The venom of R. helleri can cause severe coagulopathy, but no human fatalities have been reported.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Heller's Red-necked Keelback
- Is the Heller's Red-necked Keelback venomous?
- Yes. The Heller's Red-necked Keelback (Rhabdophis helleri) 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 Heller's Red-necked Keelback poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Heller's Red-necked Keelback is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Heller's Red-necked 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 Heller's Red-necked Keelback live?
- The Heller's Red-necked Keelback has verified records in 10 countries, including Hong Kong, China, India. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Heller's Red-necked Keelback?
- The specific name, helleri, is in honor of American zoologist Edmund Heller.
If you are bitten by the Heller's Red-necked 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
Tiger KeelbackRhabdophis tigrinus
Chinese Tiger KeelbackRhabdophis lateralis
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 helleri
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. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.