Cylindrophiidae
Island Pipe Snake
HarmlessCylindrophis opisthorhodus
3 photographs of the Island Pipe Snake. (c) Maria Bernadeth Tukan (Ona Tukan), some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Island Pipe Snake (Cylindrophis opisthorhodus) is a non-venomous snake in the Cylindrophiidae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Cylindrophiidae
About the Island Pipe Snake
The island pipe snake (Cylindrophis opisthorhodus) is a species of snake in the Cylindrophiidae family endemic to Indonesia.
Description
Dorsally, it is pale brown or buff, with small black spots irregularly disposed. The head is yellowish, much spotted with black. Ventrally, it is white, with continuous or broken and alternating black crossbars, which are connected on the sides by a black, uninterrupted stripe running from behind the head to the base of the tail; a much interrupted black stripe occurs along the middle of the belly. The anal region is black. The lower surface of the tail is bright pink (to which the specific epithet, opisthorhodus, meaning "rose posteriorly", refers).
The dorsal scales occur in 23 rows, and the ventrals, only slightly larger than the adjacent scales, are 184–187 in number; the anal scale is divided; it has six or seven subcaudal scales.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Island Pipe Snake
- Is the Island Pipe Snake venomous?
- No. The Island Pipe Snake (Cylindrophis opisthorhodus) 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 Island Pipe Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Island Pipe Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Island Pipe Snake dangerous?
- The Island Pipe Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Island Pipe Snake live?
- The Island Pipe Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Indonesia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Cylindrophiidae snakes
Jodi's pipe snakeCylindrophis jodiae
Red Cylinder SnakeCylindrophis ruffus
Ceylonese Cylinder SnakeCylindrophis maculatus
Black Pipe SnakeCylindrophis melanotus
Burmese pipe snakeCylindrophis burmanus
Boulenger's Pipe SnakeCylindrophis boulengeri
Slowinski's pipe snakeCylindrophis slowinskii
Yamdena pipe snakeCylindrophis yamdena
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
- Cylindrophiidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Cylindrophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Cylindrophis opisthorhodus
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.