Laotian Wolf Snake
Lycodon laoensis
Silhouette: Alex Slavenko · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyColubridae (Colubrid Snakes)
- GenusLycodon (Wolf Snakes and Bridal Snakes)
- SpeciesLycodon laoensis (Laotian Wolf Snake)
About the Laotian Wolf Snake
Lycodon laoensis, commonly known as the Laotian wolf snake, is a species of non-venomous colubrid snake endemic to Asia. It is found in India, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, China (Yunnan), West Malaysia and Myanmar.
Dorsally it is dark brown, with a whitish or yellowish crossband on the occiput, and similar body crossbands which bifurcate on the sides. Ventrally it is whitish. Adults are about.5 m (20 inches) in total length, which includes the tail of about 10 cm (4 inches).
They are nocturnal, and generally ground dwelling. They are not very aggressive and generally reluctant to bite. Like other Wolf Snakes, they can be mistaken for the venomous Banded Kraits. Aung, S. T., Suwanwaree, P., Aung, M. T., & Bernstein, J. M. (2025, June 10). New country records of the Laotian wolfsnake, Lycodon laoensis Günther, 1864, in Myanmar, discovered via citizen science. Herpetology Notes, 18, 373–375.
Günther, A. (1864). The Reptiles of British India. (Taylor & Francis, printers). London. xxvii + 452 pp. Lanza, B. (1999). A new species of Lycodon from the Philippines, with a key to the genus (Reptilia: Serpentes... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Laotian Wolf Snake in Khao Sok National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Khao Sok National Park
Malayan Bridal Snake
Lycodon subannulatus
Dark Wolf Snake
Lycodon albofuscus
Blanford's Bridle Snake
Lycodon davisonii
Malayan Banded Wolf Snake
Lycodon subcinctus
Common Wolf Snake
Lycodon capucinus
Scarce Wolf Snake
Lycodon effraenis
Snake-eater Wolf Snake
Lycodon ophiophagus
Western Mangrove Cat Snake
Boiga melanota
Banded Keelback
Rhabdophis nigrocinctus
Red-tailed Green Ratsnake
Gonyosoma oxycephalum
Oriental Whipsnake
Ahaetulla prasina
Elegant Bronzeback
Dendrelaphis formosus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cat Tien National Park | 🇻🇳 Vietnam | |
| 2 | Khao Sok National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand | |
| 3 | Khao Luang National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand | |
| 4 | Khao Yai National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand | |
| 5 | Kaeng Krachan National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Laotian Wolf Snake in Khao Sok National Park?
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Laotian Wolf Snake sighting in Khao Sok National Park, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Laotian Wolf Snake in Khao Sok National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Laotian Wolf Snake in Khao Sok National Park in our monthly data.