Family : COLUBRIDAE
Species : Calamaria schlegeli
Maximum Size : 40 cm

This is a small, attractive, non-venomous snake with a bright pink-red head, and no colouration on the tail. The dark dorsal colour exhibits a blue-green iridescence under strong light. The ventral surface is grey-white. Care should be taken not to confuse this species with the Blue Malayan Coral Snake Maticora bivirgata.

As with other Reed Snakes this species is a burrowing forest dweller, which feeds on small invertebrates such as worms, sometimes emerging at night to take insects.

It ranges from southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore to the islands of Borneo, Sumatra, Bangkga and Belitung.

Fig 1 : Specimen from Kota Tinggi, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia

Fig 2 : Specimen found exploring leaf litter by night in secondary forest, Singapore.

Fig 3 : The head and neck are a vibrant red. 


References : H2, H3