About
[Last Updated: 14 July 2023]
Thailand Snakes (ประเทศไทยงู) is a resource created by herpetologist Vern Lovic to help people in Thailand identify some of the 220+ snake species in the country. We are adding pages and updating information constantly, but you may find mistakes occasionally. If you find what you think to be an error, would you let us know by Contacting Us?
Vern has lived in Thailand for 18 years and has had thousands of first-hand contacts with snakes over this time. He typically finds and studies venomous and non-venomous snakes in Thailand, but also enjoys learning more about other reptiles, insects, and other wildlife and plants in the kingdom. We have biologists reviewing the information here frequently and we update pages as necessary. If you see something outdated or in error, please let us know so we can remedy it.
As a teen, Vern read all about reptiles and amphibians from around the world in magazines his aunt subscribed him to. He explored the forest around his home in Western Pennsylvania and found snakes, turtles, salamanders, crayfish, and other cool wildlife.
“When I arrived in Thailand I saw a cobra chase a half-clothed woman out of a restroom at Surin Beach on the island of Phuket. Then I saw a couple of big road kill snakes (pythons). Then I saw a browned-spotted pit viper (T. venustus) on a bush at a temple in Surat in daytime.”
“I researched for more info on snakes and found very little. I decided to create a resource for myself and others to use to identify snakes in Thailand and to know more about them. ThailandSnakes.com was launched in January 2010.”
There are more than 200 snake species in Thailand (terrestrial and marine), with 60+ being called venomous at the present moment. There are 35 venomous and potentially deadly terrestrial snakes in Thailand. Vern wrote a book to identify them called “Is that Snake In Your House Dangerous?”.
Nearly all snakes have venom of sorts, though some snakes do not have a proper venom delivery system to easily inject venom into their prey. The ‘venom delivery system’ means fangs attached to a venom sac.
Some venomous snakes in Thailand are “mildly venomous” which means they are not likely to affect human beings even if their bite injects venom under the skin. The venom may still do its job of immobilizing smaller prey like rodents, birds, and other reptiles.
Some 35 Thailand land snakes have a potentially deadly bite.
This site will help you figure out which snakes are dangerous to you and which are harmless. If you haven’t downloaded our FREE ebook, click the title below to join for free and get your free copy now while they are still free – “Photos of Common Thailand Snakes.”
Your first action upon being bitten by a snake you are not 100% sure is non-venomous – is to find someone to transport you to the hospital. There are enough venomous snakes in Thailand that can kill you that it makes sense to immediately go to the hospital for possible treatment of symptoms.
Identifying the snake is crucial because treating bites properly requires a good ID of the snake that bit you.
Here are some recommendations for what to do in case of snakebite in Thailand: Bitten By A Snake?
To identify a snake pay particular attention to:
1. Color
2. Size – length and thickness – compare to your finger, wrist for thickness.
3. Patterns of color or geometric patterns.
4. Size of head compared to neck… is head MUCH bigger or just about same size as neck?
5. Where you were exactly when you found it – in jungle? Swimming?
At the hospital, they’ll sort it out – and hopefully, have photos you can choose from. Do be careful not to consent to receive any antivenin or other treatment until symptoms are evident. Many bites are ‘dry’ and no venom, or very little venom, is injected.
You would not want to start receiving antivenin for a dry bite, because if you are allergic to it – and some people are – this can turn into a life-threatening matter all its own.
Don’t be afraid to go to the hospital for ANY snakebite because you’ll probably want to get a tetanus shot if you’re not up to date. The fangs of snakes can penetrate deeply into the tissue, and require Tetanus shots.
The bite from a king cobra or monocled cobra can kill you in less than an hour. A good bite can be deadly in as little as 10 minutes. Have someone rush you to the hospital.
All images (unless otherwise attributed) on this site are copyrighted by Vern Lovic with all rights reserved. You may not use any photo here for any reason, without asking permission first by sending this form.
Other Admin Pages
Social Media and Other
- YouTube Thailand Snakes Account here.
- FaceBook Forum “Thailand Snakes” here.
- Twitter here.
- CalPhotos – Our snake images here.
About Me Pages for My Other Websites
- KrabiNature.com – my wife’s Krabi nature and tourist attractions information website.
Snake Books
- Venomous Snakebites and Near Misses (at Amazon)
- Is That Snake In Your House Dangerous? (Free PDF)
- Keep Snakes Out! (at Amazon)
Interviews and Appearances
- Ajarn.com Interview about Snakes and Living in Thailand
- Catherine Wentworth Interview about Living in Thailand
- Coconuts TV Interview about Snakes in Toilets
- Thailand Retirement Helpers book overview
- Article about a Meditation Book I wrote
All written content by Vern Lovic, unless specified otherwise.
© Vern Lovic. All Rights Reserved.
I live in Phra Pradaeng, Samut Prakarn. I live on a compound with many houses around. There is a large canal outside our driveway. It is still tropical and near the rivers edge. This last rain session brought out some snakes in our garden/noodleshop. I collected and released a 6 inch green/chinese viper. Heart shaped head and tip od tail had brown. The next day I got a (I think) a 6 inch phython. Head and body match. I took a photo of that one but do not know where or how to identify. I’m an ole Virginia mountain boy (55) and know the rules of the road with snakes. I rock climbed in California for 16 years and met a few wonderful snakes. Please let me know how I can get this snake identified. Thanks….Khun Jeffrey
Hi Jeffrey, I replied to you by email. For anyone else that would like to have a snake identified please use the Contact page here and I’ll answer as soon as possible. Try to describe thickness – finger, arm, etc; length; coloring; patterns; where you found it; what it was eating – if anything. All of this helps… as does your location – tell me what province. Thanks!
I live in the usa but my wife is Thai and her family had a 2 month old calf. If bitten by a snake will it die over night.
Sounds like someone got asked to pay money to help them get another calf? Just guessing. It is possible. It isn’t likely I think that a calf gets bitten at night and dies by morning, but sure, I guess it could happen. Calves don’t move at night do they?
Good day.
I need some help please.
We have many snakes at our local Temple and I am looking for snake tongs.
We are in Nakhon Pathom. I live in Salaya. Could you please tell me where you are situated or where I can find the closest dealer that might carry stock of the tongs.
Thanking you.
Kind regards.
Johann
Hi Johann,
I think a noose type system is better to use than tongs. Reason being, tongs are not easily controlled and are squeezed too tightly – resulting in the snake having broken ribs and sometimes expiring as a result of being handled by a person with tongs.
The noose system also causes harm, but it isn’t usually broken ribs, it is more like broken skin around the neck, which is more likely to heal without long-term effect.
I will be making some videos about how to create your own noose which is less harmful for the snakes. Please write me at my email below to find out when I have this video complete. Thanks!
Hi Vern, yesterday I signed up for your newsletter and downloaded the e-book. Thanks for the very informative book.
I live close to Phnom Penh, Cambodia in a rather rural area, where I encounter many snakes in my yard, big ones and small ones.
I finally was able to identify a snake my Rottweiler killed last week, which puzzled me. Turned out it was an Oriental Rat Snake. About 2m long and nearly 2kg heavy.
Please allow me one comment, the Kukri snakes appear to have a defense against predators you did not mention. My dog killed a big one in the past, but he was in discomfort doing so, he started to drool and showed signs slight pain. I read somewhere, those snakes either defecate or vomit as defense. Perhaps you know more and could add this to you book description?
Another matter, you describe the prongs used by yourself. Not easy to buy this or any other brand here. Do you have any experience or comment on the prongs offered on ebay, usually priced around 20+ dollars? I’d love to buy a set, as the wife is afraid to handle the snakes encountered, usually dead, but nevertheless frightening to her. In 6 years living at our place, our Rottweiler killed more than 70 snakes. Can’t blame him, sometimes he even rescued chickens from Pythons that tried to have them for a meal.
Thanks again. Keep up the good work!
Best,
Joerg
Hi Joerg, thanks for your note.
Tongs? I cannot recommend any but the Tongs.com brand. The others don’t seem put together to avoid hurting the snakes. Using tongs is an art that I think most people shouldn’t use. Just too easy to hurt the snake. Get a long bamboo pole and put some prongs on the end – not sharp. Lift the snake with that and relocate. Safer I think.
The snake that ‘threw up’ probably had a recently ingested meal. They don’t do it as defense, just to help them get away because less weight I think (in some cases). I never saw it listed as a defense mechanism.
Cheers!
Hi Vern, seen and have photos of a Golden Tree Snake climbing a tree in my yard today if you would like the photos. I thought is was just incredible! Taken in Nakhon Si Thammarat on 23 Jul 2022.
Sure, I always like to look at photos – info@thailandsnakes.com – cheers!