Red-Tailed Pipe Snake
Cylindrophis ruffus
A widespread Southeast Asian burrowing snake with a glossy black body and a vividly banded red-and-black tail used in defensive display.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 0.4-0.9 m (1.3-3 ft)
- Range
- Southeast Asia
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Overview
The Red-Tailed Pipe Snake is one of the most widely distributed members of the pipe snake family, found across much of mainland and insular Southeast Asia. It is a fossorial species rarely seen above ground except after heavy rains.
Completely harmless to humans, it is best recognized for the bright reddish coloration on the underside of its tail, which it uses in a distinctive threat display when disturbed.
How to identify it
- Smooth, cylindrical, glossy body with uniform tapering
- Dorsal surface glossy black or dark brown, sometimes with faint pale bands
- Ventral tail region marked with vivid red and black banding
- Small, indistinct head with tiny eyes
- Adults typically 40-90 cm in length
Habitat & range
Found throughout Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Indonesia, inhabiting lowland forests, rice paddies, and agricultural land with moist, loose soil. It is highly fossorial, surfacing mainly during and after rain.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Nocturnal, feeding primarily on other snakes, eels, and amphibians, which it subdues by constriction. When threatened, it flattens its body and raises its curled tail to expose the bright red-and-black underside, sometimes hiding its head beneath its coils. It is live-bearing, giving birth to small litters of young.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Red-Tailed Pipe Snake venomous?
No, it is non-venomous and poses no threat to humans.
Why is it called the Red-Tailed Pipe Snake?
The underside of its tail displays a bright red-and-black pattern used defensively.
Where is the Red-Tailed Pipe Snake found?
It occurs widely across mainland and insular Southeast Asia.
How big does the Red-Tailed Pipe Snake get?
Adults typically reach 40-90 cm in length.
Red-Tailed Pipe Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Red-Tailed Pipe Snake.
