Colubridae
Yellow-speckled Wolfsnake
HarmlessLycodon jara
The Yellow-speckled Wolfsnake (Lycodon jara) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 6 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Yellow-speckled Wolfsnake
Lycodon jara, commonly known as the twin-spotted wolf snake, is a species of colubrid snake. It is endemic to Asia.
Distribution
Found in Bangladesh, India (Assam, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, West Bengal and parts of Uttar Pradesh) and Nepal.
Description
Snout much depressed; eye rather small. Rostral much broader than long, just visible from above; internasals much shorter than the prefrontals; frontal as long as or a little shorter than its distance from the end of the snout, a little shorter than the parietals; loreal elongate, not entering the eye; one pre-ocular; two post-oculars; temporals small, 1 + 2; 9 or 10 upper labials, third, fourth, and fifth entering the eye; 4 or 5 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are longer than the posterior.
Dorsal scales smooth, in 17 rows. Ventrals 167–175, not angulate laterally; anal divided; subcaudals 56–63, in two rows.
Coloration in alcohol (for preserved specimens): brown above, each scale with two white dots or short longitudinal lines; labials white; usually a white collar; lower surface uniform white.
Total length 35 cm (133⁄4 inches); tail 6 cm (23⁄8 inches).
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Yellow-speckled Wolfsnake
- Is the Yellow-speckled Wolfsnake venomous?
- No. The Yellow-speckled Wolfsnake (Lycodon jara) 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 Yellow-speckled Wolfsnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Yellow-speckled Wolfsnake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Yellow-speckled Wolfsnake dangerous?
- The Yellow-speckled Wolfsnake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Yellow-speckled Wolfsnake live?
- The Yellow-speckled Wolfsnake has verified records in 6 countries, including India, Bangladesh, Myanmar. 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 jara
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.