Laotian Wolf Snake
When I say the “Laotian Wolf Snake” is “not dangerous” I mean, it’s not going to kill you or send you to the intensive care unit of a Thailand hospital. But, though this snake isn’t venomous it does have a biting problem. It bites very fast because it’s small and thin – and doesn’t give much warning when it strikes – unlike some other snakes – mangrove snakes, or monocled cobras.
Caution: There is another, highly venomous – and deadly, snake that looks similar to this harmless wolf snake. It is the yellow Banded Krait. It has thick yellow and black bands, and can grow to about 2 meters long. See this krait page >
There is another snake that you might think resembles this one. It’s called a mangrove snake. This is a type of cat snake, and it has some venom, and bites hard and deep.
Lycodon laoensis (Laotian Wolf Snake)
Thai: (ngoo plong chanwan lao, or ngoo kan plong)
Length: Up to about .5 meters (50 cm, or 19 inches).
Range: All over Thailand (and Laos!).
Notes: These are ground-dwelling snakes. They are rather shy and like to hide under things. They are easily eaten by predators because they have no strong defense (venom). Laotian Wolf Snakes prefer mountains and hilly regions but also can be found close to dwellings at times.
Active Time? Night & evenings cruising through leaf litter or just sitting on a porch curled up and waiting for a gecko to walk by.
Food: Small insects, frogs, small geckos.
Defensive Behavior: Pretty calm until they are scared or angry. They bite fast, and repeatedly. Their mouth is very small so you wouldn’t end up with much of a bite, but be cautious anyway.
Venom Toxicity: No venom that affects humans. But, as with any bite, if you’re bitten and it affects you – get to the hospital. You may be allergic to it.
Offspring: Young are black and white banded and strongly resemble the Malayan Krait (Bungarus candidus).
Laotian Wolf Snake classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Lycodon
Species: L. laoensis
Binomial classification: Lycodon laoensis
Laotian Wolf Snake Video:
If you were looking for snakes of Laos – try this report of snakes found during field-herping trips in Laos. Laos-Snakes-PDF-Stuart & Heatwole 2008 snakes.
My friend in Ao Nang, Krabi, just called – he had one of these Lycodon laoensis snakes in the potted plant at his house. These are very common snakes, I have caught over 20 of them over the years. They are lovely to look at and I never get tired of them, but I told him to put it outside in the rubber tree plantation and let it go somewhere.
He asked if there was a good chance it would come back. I said, no. He said frogs and crocodiles return to their homes. So, I don’t know. Maybe snakes do??? This one is too small for a tracking device as far as I know. Maybe they have very small tracking devices they could put on this snake. Anyone know?
Ive seen å grayish snake, it has two Long White lines on the back, the belly is White, and have small orange sqares in å non particular way, all ive seen, åte not møre than 60 cm Long, what snake is this, My friend caløed it ngo pick