Anomochilidae
Leonard's Pipe Snake
HarmlessAnomochilus leonardi
2 photographs of the Leonard's Pipe Snake. (c) fhadlikennedi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Leonard's Pipe Snake (Anomochilus leonardi) is a non-venomous snake in the Anomochilidae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Family
- Anomochilidae
About the Leonard's Pipe Snake
Anomochilus leonardi, also known by the common names Leonard's pipe snake, Leonard's burrowing snake, and Malayan giant blind snake, is a species of snake in the dwarf pipesnake family Anomochilidae. The species is native to the Malay Peninsula and Borneo, where it inhabits primary and mature secondary dipterocarp forests at altitudes of 250–500 m (820–1,640 ft). Described by British herpetologist Malcolm Arthur Smith in 1940, the species is a stout, cylindrical snake with a small head and short, conical tail. It has a snout–vent length of up to 390 mm (15 in), a glossy black to purplish upperside, and a black underside. It also has two rows of elliptical yellow spots along the back, a yellow bar across the snout, and a large red patch on the subcaudal scales. It can be told apart from the other species in its genus by the absence of pale stripes along its sides, an unpaired parietofrontal scale, and the presence of the pale patches along its back.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Leonard's Pipe Snake
- Is the Leonard's Pipe Snake venomous?
- No. The Leonard's Pipe Snake (Anomochilus leonardi) 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 Leonard's Pipe Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Leonard's Pipe Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Leonard's Pipe Snake dangerous?
- The Leonard's Pipe Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Leonard's Pipe Snake live?
- The Leonard's Pipe Snake has verified records in 2 countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Anomochilidae snakes
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
- Anomochilidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Anomochilus
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Anomochilus leonardi
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.