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Text and photos by Nick Baker, unless credited to others.
Copyright © Ecology Asia 2025

 
     
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

   
   
 
Red Bamboo Snake  -  Oreocryptophis porphyraceus
   
   

Family : COLUBRIDAE
Species : Oreocryptophis porphyraceus
Maximum Size : 125 centimetres

The striking Red Mamboo Snake (also known as  Black-banded Trinket Snake or Red Mountain Racer) inhabits hilly or montane forests up 2600 metres elevation. It is mainly diurnal in habits, and is both terrestrial and arboreal: it feeds mainly on small mammals.

Its body is slender, and its head is elongated and slightly wider than the body. The snout is rounded, and the eyes are small.

The ground colour of this beautiful snake is reddish-brown, pinkish or orange in colour. Patterning either comprises dark bands running across the body or stripes running along the flanks. The underside is plain creamy yellow. 

Up to 7 subspecies are recognised: these are based on scale counts and on the arrangement of dark bands and stripes.

This wide-ranging species occurs in India, Bhutan, Tibet, Nepal, southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos Cambodia(?), Vietnam and Peninsular Malaysia. Although the species is often listed as being extant in Singapore, its historical presence is considered to be highly doubtful. 


Fig 1 : Example from Doi Angkhang, northern Thailand. Photo thanks to Rungsrit Kanjanavanit.


References :

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

Fig 1
  
©  Rungsrit Kanjanavanit