Common wolf snake

Identification

The common wolf snake is a small, slender snake that is brown or greyish-brown above with about 12–19 white crossbars. The bars widen or split on the sides of the body, and there is usually a whitish patch on each side of the back of the head. The snout is flattened and projects beyond the lower jaw¹.

Like other wolf snakes it has a vertical pupil and several enlarged, fang-like teeth at the front of the upper jaw, which have no venom grooves². Smith (1943) gave total lengths of about 70–76 cm¹; the largest reported adults reach about 84–92 cm^3,4.

Distribution

The common wolf snake is found throughout India, and in Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and parts of southern China (Fujian and Yunnan)². In India it occurs on the mainland and in Lakshadweep, but not in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands³. It has also been introduced to Mauritius¹.

Older works treated the South-east Asian wolf snakes as a race of this species¹. Today these are usually called Lycodon capucinus, and the two are described as almost impossible to tell apart².

Habitat

This is one of the most abundant and frequently seen snakes of the Indian plains, often found near or even inside human homes³. It likes rough surfaces such as rocks and walls, using holes and cracks as daytime hiding places⁴, and is partly a climber².

Its habit of living in buildings, and of being carried in cargo, has probably helped it spread¹.

Behaviour

The common wolf snake is strictly nocturnal³. By day it hides in holes and crevices, and at night it often forages among rocks and on walls⁴.

It is a skilled climber that can scale rough vertical walls with ease; one was even recorded climbing a smooth, painted vertical wall in Maharashtra³. It is itself eaten by predators, including birds such as the Indian roller⁴.

Diet

Common wolf snakes feed largely on geckos and skinks, and also take rodents and bats³. They hunt at night, often foraging among rocks and on walls and other rough surfaces⁴.

The genus name Lycodon comes from Greek words meaning “wolf tooth”, after the enlarged teeth at the front of the upper jaw².

Reproduction

The common wolf snake lays eggs². Smith (1943) reported clutches of 3–11 eggs and suggested it may breed twice a year; in India gravid females have been found in the first seven months of the year, with eggs laid from February to July¹.

A more recent account cited by the Reptile Database reports 8–16 elongated eggs, each about 28 × 12 mm².

Venom and medical significance

The common wolf snake is non-venomous and harmless to people⁵. Its enlarged front teeth are not connected to venom glands². Like many harmless snakes, it may bite if it is picked up or cornered; non-venomous snakes are responsible for many snakebites⁵.

Its main medical importance is that it can be mistaken for a krait, which may lead to unnecessary antivenom treatment⁵. If there is any doubt about which snake caused a bite, seek medical care immediately⁵.

Conservation

The common wolf snake is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessed 2021)⁶. It remains one of the most frequently encountered snakes in India³.

In India it is protected under Schedule II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2022, which covers all colubrid snakes not listed in Schedule I⁷.

Similar species

The common wolf snake looks very much like the highly venomous common krait (Bungarus caeruleus); WHO guidelines describe wolf snakes as krait mimics⁵. It is also almost identical to the closely related Lycodon capucinus of South-east Asia².

Some visual differences from the krait: the wolf snake is brown or greyish-brown rather than glossy black; its white bands widen or fork on the sides instead of staying thin and paired; and it usually has a pale patch behind the head and a flattened, projecting snout¹. These differences are not a safe basis for handling any snake.

In captivity

Although harmless, the common wolf snake is a wild animal protected by law in India. It is listed in Schedule II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2022), and the Act prohibits hunting animals listed in Schedules I and II⁷.

Wolf snakes are often found in houses and can be carried accidentally in cargo¹, so people may meet them indoors.