Colubridae
Zaw's Wolf Snake
HarmlessLycodon zawi
The Zaw's Wolf Snake (Lycodon zawi) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 3 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Zaw's Wolf Snake
Lycodon zawi, commonly known as Zaw's wolf snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to South Asia and Southeast Asia
Etymology
The specific name, zawi, is in honor of U Khin Maung Zaw, Director of the Myanmar Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division.
Geographic range
L. zawi is found in Bangladesh, northeastern India (Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura), and Myanmar (formerly called Burma).
Description
Dorsally, L. zawi is brownish black with white crossbands. Ventrally, it is cream-colored. It can grow to 48 cm (19 inches) in total length (including tail).
Habitat
Zaw's wolf snake was discovered dwelling in forests and near streams at elevations of less than 500 m (1,600 ft) in Assam, India, including Garbhange Reserve Forest, and in northern Myanmar.
Diet
L. zawi feeds mainly on small lizards such as skinks and geckos.
Reproduction
L. zawi is oviparous.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Zaw's Wolf Snake
- Is the Zaw's Wolf Snake venomous?
- No. The Zaw's Wolf Snake (Lycodon zawi) 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 Zaw's Wolf Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Zaw's Wolf Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Zaw's Wolf Snake dangerous?
- The Zaw's Wolf Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Zaw's Wolf Snake live?
- The Zaw's Wolf Snake has verified records in 3 countries, including India, Bangladesh, Myanmar. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Zaw's Wolf Snake eat?
- L. zawi feeds mainly on small lizards such as skinks and geckos.
- Why is it called the Zaw's Wolf Snake?
- The specific name, zawi, is in honor of U Khin Maung Zaw, Director of the Myanmar Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division.
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 zawi
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.