Family : COLUBRIDAE
Species: Lycodon butleri
Maximum Size : 90 cm

The Mountain or Butler's Wolf Snake is endemic to Peninsular Malaysia, and seems restricted to montane habitats.

Its slender body is dark brown, patterned with numerous irregular pale bands which are widely spaced towards the head but become more closely spaced towards the tail. The species lacks a pale collar, which is a feature of other Lycodon species, such as the Common Wolf Snake Lycodon capucinus.

The head is slightly wider than the body, and the eye is of medium size.

In Peninsular Malaysia the species may be found in the old colonial hill resorts of Maxwell Hill (Bukit Larut), Cameron Highlands and Fraser's Hill.

Fig 1 : A Mountain Wolf Snake in sub-montane habitat at Fraser's Hill, Peninsular Malaysia (Elevation = 1000 metres). Photo thanks to Leong Tzi Ming.


References :

Das, I., 2010. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-east Asia. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd.

Tweedie, M., 1957. The Snakes of Malaya. Raffles Museum, Singapore.