Family : COLUBRIDAE
Species: Lycodon albofuscus
Maximum Size : 2.7 metres

The Dusky Wolf Snake, or Dark Wolf Snake, inhabits lowland forest and forest-edge settings. This is a terrestrial species and, like most wolf snakes, is typically nocturnal in habits. It reportedly preys on lizards and frogs.

This is one of the largest species of wolf snake in the genus Lycodon. Its body and tail are slender, and its head is elongated and slightly wider than its body. Its snout is blunt and its eyes are medium in size.

Adults are brown or brownish-black on top and pale beneath with no distinguishing features. Juveniles, however, have numerous pale bands across the dorsum which are evenly distributed along the entire length of the body and tail: these bands are narrower on top and thicker at the base, which means the brownish upperside is reduced to a series of dark saddles.

The Dusky Wolf Snake occurs in southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia (including the island of Tioman where these images were taken), Sumatra and Borneo.

Figs 1 to 3 : Large adult specimen from the island of Tioman, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. It was encountered at night amongst granite boulders. Photos thanks to Serin Subaraj.


References : H12