Family : COLUBRIDAE
Species : Elaphe taeniura ridleyi
Maximum Size : 2.5 metres

References : H1, H3

Photo thanks to Kelvin Lim

The Cave Dwelling Snake or Cave Racer inhabits limestone caves, occasionally venturing to the cave entrance. It is considered a specialised subspecies of the more widespread Elaphe taeniura.

The anterior scales are yellowish-brown or beige, and the posterior scales black, with a thick, white or yellow vertebral stripe. The head is slender and bears a thick, black eye-mask. The top of the head is bluish. It preys mainly on bats.

	Close-up of the head showing the dark eye-mask.

The species occurs in southern Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia.