Colubridae
Travancore Wolf Snake
HarmlessLycodon travancoricus
6 photographs of the Travancore Wolf Snake. © Paulmathi Vinod.
The Travancore Wolf Snake (Lycodon travancoricus) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 3 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Travancore Wolf Snake
Lycodon travancoricus, commonly known as the Travancore wolf snake, is a species of colubrid snake endemic to south India.
Description
Lycodon travancoricus is dark brown or black dorsally, with white crossbands and white lineolations on the sides. Ventrally it is uniform white. It is very similar to Lycodon striatus, but the upper lip is brown, or white spotted with brown.
The dorsal scales are smooth, in 17 rows. The ventrals number 175-202; the anal is entire; and the subcaudals are 56–76, usually double, but sometimes single.
Adults may attain 60 cm (23+1⁄2 inches) in total length, with a tail 12.5 cm (4+7⁄8 inches) long Maximum 742mm (29 in).
Geographic range
It is endemic to Peninsular India. It is a hill-dwelling species, preferring high-elevation wet forests. It occurs in the Western Ghats across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, southern Gujarat and southern parts of the Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu. and also in the Maldives.
Populations from the Eastern Ghats and Deccan Plateau in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka previously mistaken to be this species, have now been classified as a distinct species Lycodon deccanensis.
Habits and Habitat
It is a nocturnal, oviparous, non-venomous snake. It prefers forests, both evergreen and deciduous, on windward plains and hills.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Travancore Wolf Snake
- Is the Travancore Wolf Snake venomous?
- No. The Travancore Wolf Snake (Lycodon travancoricus) 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 Travancore Wolf Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Travancore Wolf Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Travancore Wolf Snake dangerous?
- The Travancore Wolf Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Travancore Wolf Snake live?
- The Travancore Wolf Snake has verified records in 3 countries, including India, Germany, Indonesia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
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
- Lycodon
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Lycodon travancoricus
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.