Reptile
Red-banded Snake
Lycodon rufozonatusAlso known as Red-banded Dinodon, Asian Red-banded Snake, Red-and-black Snake
Red-banded snakes feature striking crimson and black rings that signal a warning to potential predators as they forage through damp fields and stream margins at night. Highly adaptable opportunistic hunters, they feed primarily on amphibians, smaller snakes, and fish before retreating under rocks or leaf litter at dawn. When cornered, they often coil defensively, flatten their heads, and release a foul-smelling musk alongside quick strikes.
NocturnalBandedReptile
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyToads, Frogs, Lizards
Predators
- Birds of Prey
- Large Mammals
- Larger Snakes
ThreatsRoad Mortality, Habitat Destruction, Persecution
HabitatsForests, Agricultural Fields, Marshes, Stream Margins
Life span8–15 years
Classification
- FamilyColubridae
- SpeciesLycodon rufozonatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Non-venomous but delivers a painful bite if cornered; observe safely without handling.
- Why it is dangerous
- Lacks medically significant venom but possesses sharp teeth and quick striking reflexes that inflict painful cuts.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Identified by alternating broad reddish-orange and black bands stretching from neck to tail.
- What to do
- Give the snake space to retreat and never attempt to pick it up or trap it.
Responsible observation
- Night Observations: Use a soft light source along wetland edges after dusk to spot actively foraging individuals.
- Handling Caution: Avoid picking up wild individuals to prevent defensive bites and pungent musk secretions.
- Agricultural Role: Leave snakes undisturbed around farmland, where they naturally regulate amphibian and pest numbers.
Primary Prey Visviva / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative (c) Henry Calilung, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Koolah, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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