Colubridae
Ocellated Kukri Snake
HarmlessOligodon ocellatus

The Ocellated Kukri Snake (Oligodon ocellatus) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 4 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Ocellated Kukri Snake
The ocellated kukri snake (Oligodon ocellatus) is a species of snake of the family Colubridae.
Geographic range
The snake is found in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand.
Biology
Like several other species of kukri snakes (genus Oligodon), the species feeds on toads. Observations indicate that it likely first eviscerates such prey and devours its organs, before swallowing the toad whole.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Ocellated Kukri Snake
- Is the Ocellated Kukri Snake venomous?
- No. The Ocellated Kukri Snake (Oligodon ocellatus) 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 Kukri Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Ocellated Kukri Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Ocellated Kukri Snake dangerous?
- The Ocellated Kukri Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Ocellated Kukri Snake live?
- The Ocellated Kukri Snake has verified records in 4 countries, including Viet Nam, Thailand, Cambodia. 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 ocellatus
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.