Cylindrophis ruffus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cylindrophis ruffus
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Cylindrophis
Species:	ruffus
Synonyms
Anguis ruffa Laurenti, 1768 [Anguis] rufus - Gmelin, 1788 [Anguis] striatus Gmelin, 1788 Eryx rufus - Daudin, 1803 [Tortrix] rufa - Merrem, 1820 [Scytale] Schuechzeri Merrem, 1820 A[guis]. (E[lysia].) rufus - Hemprich, 1820 Ilysia rufa - Lichtenstein, 1823 Cylindrophis resplendens Wagler, 1828 [Tortrix] rufus - Gray, 1831 Cylindrophis rufa - Gray, 1842 Cylindrophis rufus - Cantor, 1847 Anguis rubra - Gray, 1849 Anguis rufa Var. Javanica Gray, 1849 Cylindrophis rufus - Boulenger, 1893 Cylindrophis rufus rufus - M.A. Smith, 1943 Cylindrophis rufus burmanus M.A. Smith, 1943 Cylindrophis rufus - Campden-Main, 1970

The red-tailed pipe snake, red cylinder snake, or common pipe snake (Cylindrophis ruffus) is a nonvenomous cylindrophiid snake species found in Southeast Asia. No subspecies are currently recognized.

Description

Adults can grow to 39 in (1 m) in length.

The dorsal scales are smooth, in 19 or 21 rows, with 186-245 ventrals, which are not quite twice as large as the contiguous dorsal scales; the anal plate is divided, and five to 10 subcaudals.

Compared to other snakes, C. ruffus have a limited gape size. Their primary diet consists of long, thin prey animals including snakes, caecilians, and eels.

Geographic range

It is found in Myanmar and southern China (Fujian, Hong Kong and on Hainan Island), south into Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula and the East Indies to Indonesia (the Riau Archipelago, Sumatra, Bangka, Borneo, Java, Sulawesi, Buton and the Sula Islands. The type locality given is "Surinami" (possibly a mistake).