Colubridae
Laudankia Vine Snake
HarmlessAhaetulla laudankia




4 photographs of the Laudankia Vine Snake. © Raja bandi.
The Laudankia Vine Snake (Ahaetulla laudankia) is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Laudankia Vine Snake
Ahaetulla laudankia, known as the Laudankia vine snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. It is endemic to India and while being a rare species, it has a relatively large range, extending from the Eastern Ghats through Central India west to eastern Rajasthan. Its name derives from the Odia term laudanka, which translates to "dried stems of bottle gourd, as the snake closely resembles them with its thin body and brownish color.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Laudankia Vine Snake
- Is the Laudankia Vine Snake venomous?
- The Laudankia Vine Snake (Ahaetulla laudankia) is rear-fanged and only mildly venomous. It is not considered dangerous to humans (its venom is weak and its fangs sit at the back of the mouth) but a bite can cause local swelling or irritation, so it should not be handled.
- Is the Laudankia Vine Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Laudankia Vine Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Laudankia Vine Snake dangerous?
- The Laudankia Vine Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Laudankia Vine Snake live?
- The Laudankia Vine Snake has verified records in 1 country, including India. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Oriental WhipsnakeAhaetulla prasina
Indian Vine SnakeAhaetulla oxyrhynca
Northern Western Ghats Vine SnakeAhaetulla borealis
Long-nosed WhipsnakeAhaetulla nasuta
Malayan WhipsnakeAhaetulla mycterizans
Indochinese Long-nosed WhipsnakeAhaetulla fusca
Farnsworth's Vine SnakeAhaetulla farnsworthi
Malabar Vine SnakeAhaetulla malabarica
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
- Ahaetulla
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Ahaetulla laudankia
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.