Kukri Snakes

Southeast Asia Snakes

Snakes ~ Kraits

Kukri snakes are unique snakes that occur widely across Southeast Asia in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Borneo and Indonesia. The name comes from the curved-shaped knives of Gurkha soldiers of which their rear-fangs resemble. Kukri snakes are terrestrial, inhabiting wooden vessels, leaf litter and rummaging the forest bed for eggs, their primary diet. They will also feed on skinks and small mammals. Using their remarkably sharp teeth, they break open the hard casing of the shell and suck up the albumen and yolk.

Several kukri snake species are distributed across Peninsular Malaysia, with some species localised in the north and the rest in the central and southern regions. The most commonly encountered is Oligodon purpurascens or the brown kukri snake. This species inhabits lowland and mid-level rainforests. Another kukri snake species that occurs sympatrically is Oligodon octolineatus or the striped kukri, a tiny and shy species that is uncommon in the Peninsular.

Further up in the extreme north is where certain Thai kukri snake species cross over. This includes Oligodon joynsoni and Oligodon fasciolatus. Oligodon fasciolatus or Cantor's kukri snake can be found in a variety of colours which include greyish white and reddish orange. They are stout and large, growing up to 90 cm in length. They have faded large splotches across their dorsal area with white ventrals.

On an added note, Oligodon cyclurus smithi is a synonym of Oligodon fasciolatus. As their name suggests, kukri snakes have extremely razor-sharp teeth and their fangs can cause deep incisions in the skin with profuse bleeding. A captive Oligodon cyclurus smithi was once observed consuming a Leopeltis tricolor that had escaped into its tank.

Oligodon signatus, or the rusty-barred kukri snake, is another rare kukri species that is known from southern localities in the Peninsular, including Malacca and Singapore. However, the author has recorded one specimen from the Cameron Highlands, which puts its distribution range further up north.

This beautiful kukri snake has a purplish brown body with an irridiscent sheen. A series of orange bands with a pronounced chevron shape covers the back while the a dark stripe runs from the orbit to the lower jaw. The ventrals are orange and the head is very small when compared to the body.

The striking red ventral colouration of Oligodon purpurascens in juveniles will eventually fade to yellowish and then white with black splotched bands.