Family : CYLINDROPHIIDAE
Species : Cylindrophis melanotus
Maximum Size : At least 60 cm

Cylindrophis melanotus (Black Pipe Snake) is endemic to the islands of north-central Indonesia including Sulawesi, the Tabukan and Sangihe islands, Buton and Bacan. Its status on Halmahera appears uncertain (Gillespie & Amarasinghe, 2021).

On the largest of these islands, namely Sulawesi, it is reportedly widely distributed, ranging from sea level to 1200 metres elevation (Gillespie & Amarasinghe, 2021). It occurs in a range of forest types including primary forest and secondary forest.

The example shown here, shared by Mr. Yong Ding Li, was found during the day in secondary forest at Gunung Tumpa, located around 5 km north of Manado, Sulawesi, at an elevation of around 400 metres. It was openly visible on the forest floor; typically pipe snakes remain concealed beneath leaf litter.

The dorsal surface of this easily identifiable snake is jet black, and its ventral surface is chequered/banded red and black. The top of its head is black, and its snout bright red.

The head is small and no wider than the anterior portion of the body; this morphology is typical of burrowing snakes.

When alarmed the red underside of the tail is raised as a warning to potential predators, which may confuse the tail with the head. 


Fig 1 : Anterior part of the body and head of an example from Gunung Tumpa, Sulawesi found at an elevation of around 400 metres. The estimated total length of this snake was around 60 cm.

Figs 2 and 3 : The raised tail of the same example from Gunung Tumpa.

All photos thanks to Yong Ding Li. 


References :

Gillespie, G. & Amarasinghe, A. (2021). Cylindrophis melanotus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T42492726A42492730.