Colubridae
Nagao Kukri Snake
HarmlessOligodon nagao


2 photographs of the Nagao Kukri Snake. (c) SIFASV from Vietnam_Nguyen Van Tan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Nagao Kukri Snake (Oligodon nagao) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 3 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Nagao Kukri Snake
Oligodon nagao, the Nagao kukri snake, is a species of snakes in the family Colubridae. Specimens have been collected from Lang Son and Cao Bang in northern Vietnam, Guangxi Autonomous Region in southern People's Republic of China, and from Khammouane Province in central Laos PDR.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Nagao Kukri Snake
- Is the Nagao Kukri Snake venomous?
- No. The Nagao Kukri Snake (Oligodon nagao) 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 Nagao Kukri Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Nagao Kukri Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Nagao Kukri Snake dangerous?
- The Nagao Kukri Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Nagao Kukri Snake live?
- The Nagao Kukri Snake has verified records in 3 countries, including Viet Nam, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, China. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Taiwan Kukri SnakeOligodon formosanus
Small-banded Kukri SnakeOligodon fasciolatus
Streaked Kukri SnakeOligodon taeniolatus
Banded kukri snakeOligodon arnensis
Eight-striped Kukri SnakeOligodon octolineatus
Striped Kukri SnakeOligodon taeniatus
Chinese Kukri SnakeOligodon chinensis
Brown Kukri SnakeOligodon purpurascens
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
- Oligodon
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Oligodon nagao
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.