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 →