Colubridae
Ocellated Brown Snake
HarmlessXenelaphis ellipsifer
3 photographs of the Ocellated Brown Snake. (c) pavagar, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
The Ocellated Brown Snake (Xenelaphis ellipsifer) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Ocellated Brown Snake
Xenelaphis ellipsifer, the ornate brown snake, or ocellated brown snake, is a large species of snake, up to 2.5 m long, which is found in Malaysia and Indonesia. It has a rounded snout, its head is distinct from its neck, and it has protruding large round eyes. The top of the snake is orange-red in color, and along the sides of its body are large black-edged squarish brown blotches separated by cream colored spaces. It has a yellow upper lip. X. ellipsifer is an aquatic species, found in forests at 800–1,000 m (2,600–3,300 ft) above sea level.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Ocellated Brown Snake
- Is the Ocellated Brown Snake venomous?
- No. The Ocellated Brown Snake (Xenelaphis ellipsifer) 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 Ocellated Brown Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Ocellated Brown Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Ocellated Brown Snake dangerous?
- The Ocellated Brown Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Ocellated Brown Snake live?
- The Ocellated Brown Snake has verified records in 2 countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Malaysian Brown SnakeXenelaphis hexagonotus
Common Garter SnakeThamnophis sirtalis
Common WatersnakeNerodia sipedon
Gopher SnakePituophis catenifer
DeKay's BrownsnakeStoreria dekayi
North American RacerColuber constrictor
Ring-necked SnakeDiadophis punctatus
Western Terrestrial Garter SnakeThamnophis elegans
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
- Xenelaphis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Xenelaphis ellipsifer
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.