Cylindrophiidae
Red Cylinder Snake
HarmlessCylindrophis ruffus
The Red Cylinder Snake (Cylindrophis ruffus) is a non-venomous snake in the Cylindrophiidae family, recorded in 15 countries.
- Family
- Cylindrophiidae
About the Red Cylinder Snake
The red-tailed pipe snake, red cylinder snake, or common pipe snake (Cylindrophis ruffus) is a nonvenomous cylindrophiid snake species found in Southeast Asia. No subspecies are currently recognized.
Description
Adults can grow to 39 in (1 m) in length.
The dorsal scales are smooth, in 19 or 21 rows, with 186–245 ventrals, which are not quite twice as large as the contiguous dorsal scales; the anal plate is divided, and five to 10 subcaudals.
Compared to other snakes, C. ruffus have a limited gape size. Their primary diet consists of long, thin prey animals including snakes, caecilians, and eels.
Geographic range
It is found in Myanmar and southern China (Fujian, Hong Kong and on Hainan Island), south into Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula and the East Indies to Indonesia (the Riau Archipelago, Sumatra, Bangka, Borneo, Java, Sulawesi, Buton and the Sula Islands. The type locality given is "Surinami" (possibly a mistake).
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Red Cylinder Snake
- Is the Red Cylinder Snake venomous?
- No. The Red Cylinder Snake (Cylindrophis ruffus) 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 Red Cylinder Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Red Cylinder Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Red Cylinder Snake dangerous?
- The Red Cylinder Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Red Cylinder Snake live?
- The Red Cylinder Snake has verified records in 15 countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Cylindrophiidae snakes
Jodi's pipe snakeCylindrophis jodiae
Ceylonese Cylinder SnakeCylindrophis maculatus
Black Pipe SnakeCylindrophis melanotus
Island Pipe SnakeCylindrophis opisthorhodus
Burmese pipe snakeCylindrophis burmanus
Boulenger's Pipe SnakeCylindrophis boulengeri
Slowinski's pipe snakeCylindrophis slowinskii
Yamdena pipe snakeCylindrophis yamdena
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
- Cylindrophiidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Cylindrophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Cylindrophis ruffus
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.