Ringed kukri snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Oligodon annulifer |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Oligodon |
| Species: |
O. annulifer
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| Binomial name | |
| Oligodon annulifer (Boulenger, 1893)
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| Synonyms | |
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Simotes annulifer Boulenger, 1893 |
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The ringed kukri snake, also known as Oligodon annulifer, is a type of snake found only on the island of Borneo. It belongs to a large family of snakes called colubrids.
About the Ringed Kukri Snake
Scientists group living things into categories. This helps us understand how they are related. The ringed kukri snake's scientific name, Oligodon annulifer, has a special meaning. The word annulifer comes from Latin words. Anus means "ring," and fero means "carry." So, its name means "ring-carrying."
This snake is part of the Oligodon group. These snakes are common in parts of Asia. The Oligodon group is in the Colubridae family. This is the biggest snake family in the world. You can find these snakes on every continent except Antarctica. For a while, scientists were not sure if Oligodon annulifer was its own species. But in 2010, they found an adult snake. This helped them confirm it is a unique species.
What Does It Look Like?
The ringed kukri snake has a brown back. It has black rings with yellowish-brown spots inside them. One snake studied in 1893 had 26 of these rings. The sides of the snake are black. They have yellowish lines running along them.
The snake's head is yellowish-brown. It has a dark stripe across its forehead. There is also a dark, upside-down Y shape on the back of its neck. The snake's belly is white. It has small black dots. A young snake studied in 1893 was about 16 centimeters long.
Habitat and Life Cycle
The ringed kukri snake lays eggs. This means it is an egg-laying animal. It is known to eat the eggs of other reptiles. Its teeth are special for this job. They are sharp and can easily cut open eggs.
This snake mostly lives in lowland rainforests. It is a terrestrial species. This means it spends most of its time on the ground.
Where It Lives
The ringed kukri snake is found only on the island of Borneo. This means it is endemic to Borneo. Scientists have found these snakes in five different places on the island. Some of these places are protected areas. These include Bukit-Baka National Park in Indonesia. It also includes the Ulu Temburong National Park in Brunei.
The snake is not thought to be very common. It has been seen at heights up to 100 meters above sea level. Because it is found in many places, the IUCN (a group that studies wildlife) says it is a species of "least concern." This means it is not in immediate danger. However, the lowland rainforests where it lives are changing. Human activities like farming for palm oil are affecting these areas. Other activities like logging and mining also change the forest. Scientists are still learning how these changes affect the ringed kukri snake.
 | Claudette Colvin |
 | Myrlie Evers-Williams |
 | Alberta Odell Jones |
