Is the Pink-headed Reed Snake venomous?

No. The Pink-headed Reed Snake (Calamaria schlegeli) 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 Pink-headed Reed Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Pink-headed Reed Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Pink-headed Reed Snake dangerous?

The Pink-headed Reed Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.

Where does the Pink-headed Reed Snake live?

The Pink-headed Reed Snake has verified records in 6 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Colubridae

Pink-headed Reed Snake

Harmless

Calamaria schlegeli

Pink-headed Reed Snake — Calamaria schlegeli, © Davis Damaledo

6 photographs of the Pink-headed Reed Snake. © Davis Damaledo.

The Pink-headed Reed Snake (Calamaria schlegeli) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 6 countries.

Family: Colubridae

About the Pink-headed Reed Snake

Calamaria schlegeli is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is known commonly as the red-headed reed snake, white-headed reed snake, and pink-headed reed snake. It is native to Southeast Asia, where it occurs in the Malay Peninsula (Malaysia, Singapore), Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia), and in several Indonesian islands, including Sumatra, Java, Bali.

Etymology

The specific name, schlegeli, is in honor of German herpetologist Hermann Schlegel.

Identification

The key identification characters for C. schlegeli are modified maxillary teeth and scale characteristics. The third and fourth upper lip scales touch the eye. The mental scale does not touch the anterior chin shields. The nasal scales are oriented laterally. There is considerable geographic variation. Preocular scales are present in snakes from Singapore and Malaya, but absent in those from Java, and sometimes present on those from Borneo and Sumatra.

This nonvenomous red-headed snake is sometimes confused with the venomous blue Malayan coral snake (Calliophis bivirgatus) and the red-headed krait (Bungarus flaviceps), in an example of Batesian mimicry where a non-venomous animal protects itself by appearing similar to a venomous one.

Biology

C. schlegeli lives in forest undergrowth. It sometimes emerges on paths and in yards and gardens. It burrows for cover and feeds on small prey such as worms and insects.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Pink-headed Reed Snake

Is the Pink-headed Reed Snake venomous?: No. The Pink-headed Reed Snake (Calamaria schlegeli) 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 Pink-headed Reed Snake poisonous?: Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Pink-headed Reed Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Pink-headed Reed Snake dangerous?: The Pink-headed Reed Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Pink-headed Reed Snake live?: The Pink-headed Reed Snake has verified records in 6 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Why is it called the Pink-headed Reed Snake?: The specific name, schlegeli, is in honor of German herpetologist Hermann Schlegel.

Where it is found

Indonesia Malaysia Singapore Thailand Brunei Darussalam Viet Nam

More Colubridae 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: Colubridae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species: Calamaria
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name: Calamaria schlegeli

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.