Colubridae · Philippine record
Calamaria lumbricoideaBOIE 1827
Venom: Genus-level classification: the taxonomic literature characterises Calamaria reed snakes as nonvenomous. This is not a species-specific venom assay.
Introduction, first paragraph
Venom effects and medical significance are different from toxicity rankings. Do not handle a snake on the basis of this summary.
The diagnosis describes a yellow underside interrupted by broad black bars, while also documenting plain-bellied populations in Java and Sumatra. A single colour pattern cannot represent every population. Its atlas account links 7 named island or island-group records to the source literature.
Literature updated 2026-10-07 · Editorial review pending
Explore the island records ↓Species portrait
Calamaria lumbricoidea
Image to followThe illustrated collection
Adult · study plate
Calamaria lumbricoidea
Image to followJuvenile · study plate
Calamaria lumbricoidea
Image to followLife stages will be labelled from the contributor’s information. Images alone do not establish identification or a locality record.
Media provenance
Contributor images are forthcoming. Photographs and illustrations will retain their individual credits, permissions and evidence notes.
A closer look
The diagnosis describes a yellow underside interrupted by broad black bars, while also documenting plain-bellied populations in Java and Sumatra. A single colour pattern cannot represent every population.
Literature documented · Diagnosis: geographic variation
Species-level database summary; literature review, not expert validation.
The cited account does not establish population-wide variation or the conditions at every Philippine locality.
The species account records egg-laying reproduction. A verified Philippine clutch-size range, incubation interval and breeding calendar are not established here.
Literature documented · Reproduction field
Reproductive mode reported for this named species.
Mode alone does not establish litter or clutch size, seasonal timing, or captive husbandry requirements.
The atlas records Calamaria lumbricoidea from these named Philippine areas: Mindanao, Samar, Leyte, Negros, Bohol, Basilan, Camiguin Sur. These are literature areas rather than a continuous range boundary.
Literature documented · Existing checklist occurrence statement and distribution review
The original evidence level is retained.
A country listing cannot establish an island or a precise locality.
Calamaria lumbricoidea is retained in the atlas’s dated checklist under Colubridae. The authority is BOIE 1827. Earlier names and the original source notes are preserved below for comparison.
Literature documented · Checklist identity and nomenclatural trail
Checklist verified 2026-09-05; not a newly revised taxonomic backbone.
Historical names can cover different biological concepts; synonyms should not be used to transfer records automatically.
Across the archipelago
Documented islands: gold · island groups: dashed circles
Island-level records · not continuous habitat coverage. Dashed circles locate groups, not individual observations.
Philippine distribution
Select an island to read its distribution record and sources. Uncoloured islands are not evidence of absence.
Thailand, W Malaysia (Pulau Tioman), Sarawak, Sabah, Indonesia (Nias, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Great Natuna, Kalimantan, Mentawai Archipelago), Philippines (Basilan, Mindanao, Negros, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Camiguin Sur), Singapore Type locality: Java
The atlas records Calamaria lumbricoidea from these named Philippine areas: Mindanao, Samar, Leyte, Negros, Bohol, Basilan, Camiguin Sur. These are literature areas rather than a continuous range boundary.
The Reptile Database — species checklist, 17 June 2026 ↗Existing checklist occurrence statement and distribution review
Synopsis of the Snakes of the Philippines: A Synthesis of Data from Biodiversity Repositories, Field Studies, and the Literature ↗Existing checklist occurrence statement and distribution review
References attached to this species account. Island-specific evidence is shown separately where available.
The Reptile Database — species checklist, 17 June 2026 ↗
Calamaria lumbricoidea — The Reptile Database species account ↗
Living with wildlife
Non-venomous · Not applicable · non-venomous
Observe from a distance. Do not handle, corner or capture a snake to identify it. An incomplete venom account is not evidence that a species is safe to handle.
After a suspected snakebite, keep the person still and arrange urgent medical care. Avoid tight tourniquets, cutting, suction and unproven remedies. Do not wait to identify the snake before seeking help.
WHO guidance on snakebite first aidSpecies record
Range noteCountry/island text is not a range polygon or locality record.
Thailand, W Malaysia (Pulau Tioman), Sarawak, Sabah, Indonesia (Nias, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Great Natuna, Kalimantan, Mentawai Archipelago), Philippines (Basilan, Mindanao, Negros, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, Camiguin Sur), Singapore Type locality: Java
Names through time
Calamaria lumbricoidea H. BOIE in F. BOIE 1827: 540 Calamaria vermiformis DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL 1854: 85 Calamaria temmincki DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL 1854: 87 Calamaria lumbricoidea — DUMÉRIL & BIBRON 1854: 89 Calamaria melanorhynchos BLEEKER 1860 Calamaria alkeni BLEEKER 1860 Calamaria lumbricoidea —JAN 1865 Calamaria vermiformis —JAN 1865 Calamaria stahlknechtii STOLICZKA 1873 Calamaria stahlknechtii — BOULENGER 1885: 388 Calamaria lumbricoidea — MÜLLER 1887: 260 Calamaria vermiformis var. sumatranus LIDTH DE JEUDE 1890 Calamaria variabilis LIDT DE JEUDE 1890: 182 (fide Marx & Inger 1965) Calamaria bungaroides WERNER 1901: 300 Calamaria vermiformis — LIDTH DE JEUDE 1922: 247 Calamaria bruegeli MERTENS 1924: 158 (fide MANTHEY 1983) Calamaria göringi VOGT 1925: 64 Calamaria vermiformis — TWEEDIE 1950 Calamaria vermiformis — TWEEDIE 1954 Calamaria lumbricoidea — INGER & MARX 1965: 75 Calamaria vermiformis — HENDRICKSON 1966: 67 Calamaria lumbricoidea — GRANDISON 1972: 86 Calamaria lumbricoidea — MANTHEY & GROSSMANN 1997: 326 Calamaria lumbricoidea — COX et al. 1998: 36 Calamaria lumbricoidea — INGER & VORIS 2001 Calamaria lumbricoidea — COX et al. 2012: 76 Calamaria lumbricoidea — WALLACH et al. 2014: 139 Calamaria lumbricoidea — ZHANG et al. 2025
Synonymy mostly after David & Vogel 1996. Type species: Calamaria lumbricoidea H. BOIE in F. BOIE 1827 has been considered as the type species of the genus Calamaria BOIE 1827 (here Calamaria linnaei is considered the type species, following WALLACH et al. 2014).
Uetz, P.; Freed, P.; Aguilar, R.; Reyes, F.; Kudera, J.; Hošek, J. (eds.)
Leviton, A. E.; Siler, C. D.; Weinell, J. L.; Brown, R. M.
Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 64(14): 399–568
Zhang, T.; Xu, Y.; Tan, N. V.; Poyarkov, N.; Peng, L.; Deng, J.; Wang, X.; Huang, S.
Biodiversity Data Journal 13: e165597
Introduction explicitly characterises Calamaria as nonvenomous. Used only for that genus-level classification, not to transfer measurements or ecology of C. andersoni to Philippine species.
Uetz, P.; Hallermann, J. et al. (editors)
Public species fields consulted for bounded biological summaries. Primary sources quoted within the database were not independently examined unless explicitly stated. The catalogue name may differ from the current source title.