Colubridae · Global account with Philippine editorial coverage
Rhabdophis chrysargos(SCHLEGEL, 1837)
The diagnosis reports 19 midbody scale rows, mostly keeled, and enlarged rear maxillary teeth. These structural features alone do not quantify the consequences of a bite. Its atlas account links 3 named island or island-group records to the source literature.
Literature updated 2026-10-07 · Editorial review pending
Explore the island records ↓Species portrait
Rhabdophis chrysargos
Image to followThe illustrated collection
Adult · study plate
Rhabdophis chrysargos
Image to followJuvenile · study plate
Rhabdophis chrysargos
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.
One species · Across borders
Countries and territories named in the checked sources. Island links and country lists use these same occurrence records; a country record does not imply presence on every island.
Indonesian occurrence: Sumatra; Mentawai; Nias; Simeulue; Java; Bali; Kalimantan; Flores; Ternate.
Region guides: SumatraJava & BaliKalimantanLesser SundasMaluku
Checked 7 October 2026. Listed, introduced and uncertain records remain distinct. Islands not yet indexed are not claims of absence. Broad references such as “Borneo” or “New Guinea” are not automatically assigned to every country sharing the island.
Sulawesi records are doubtful and excluded from regional tags.
A closer look
The diagnosis reports 19 midbody scale rows, mostly keeled, and enlarged rear maxillary teeth. These structural features alone do not quantify the consequences of a bite.
Literature documented · Diagnosis
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 Rhabdophis chrysargos from these named Philippine areas: Palawan, Busuanga, Balabac. 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.
Rhabdophis chrysargos is retained in the atlas’s dated checklist under Colubridae. The authority is (SCHLEGEL 1837). 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.
Brunei Darussalam; Indonesia (Anambas Archipelago, Bali, Flores, Java, Kalimantan, Mentawai Archipelago, Nias, Simeulue, Sumatra, Ternate, Borneo, ), Philippines (Balabac, Culion, Busuanga, Palawan), Laos, S Burma (Myanmar), S Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam (Hoa Binh), Malaysia (Malaya and East Malaysia, Pulau Tioman); China (Hainan) Type locality: “Java”; “Mt. Megamendung, Westjava” (fide MANTHEY & GROSSMANN 1997)
The atlas records Rhabdophis chrysargos from these named Philippine areas: Palawan, Busuanga, Balabac. 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 ↗
Rhabdophis chrysargos — The Reptile Database species account ↗
Living with wildlife
Venom classification not yet added · Effects not yet summarised in this atlas
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.
Brunei Darussalam; Indonesia (Anambas Archipelago, Bali, Flores, Java, Kalimantan, Mentawai Archipelago, Nias, Simeulue, Sumatra, Ternate, Borneo, ), Philippines (Balabac, Culion, Busuanga, Palawan), Laos, S Burma (Myanmar), S Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam (Hoa Binh), Malaysia (Malaya and East Malaysia, Pulau Tioman); China (Hainan) Type locality: “Java”; “Mt. Megamendung, Westjava” (fide MANTHEY & GROSSMANN 1997)
Names through time
Tropidonotus chrysargos SCHLEGEL 1837: 3 Natrix chrysargus H. BOIE in F. BOIE 1827 (nomen nudum) Tropidonotus junceus CANTOR 1847 Tropidonotus junceus — BLYTH 1856: 716 Amphiesma chrysargos — JAN 1863 Amphiesma chrysargum — DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL 1854: 739 Leptophis albomaculatus — DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL 1854: 541 Tropidonotus chrysargus — GÜNTHER 1858 Tropidonotus junceus — GÜNTHER 1864 Tropidonotus (Amphiesma) chrysargus — BOETTGER 1883 Tropidonotus chrysargos — FISCHER 1885: 3 Tropidonotus (Amphiesma) chrysargus var. juncea — BOETTGER 1887 Tropidonotus maculatus var. torquatus MOCQUARD 1890: 139 Tropidonotus chrysargus — BOULENGER 1893: 258 Natrix chrysarga — STEJNEGER 1907: 265 Tropidonotus chrysargus — WALL 1909: 145 Tropidonotus chrysargus — LIDTH DE JEUDE 1922: 243 Natrix chrysarga — TAYLOR 1922: 87 Natrix chrysargus — SMITH 1922: 265 Rhabdophis chrysargus — WALL 1923 Natrix chrysarga — SMEDLEY 1932 Natrix crysarga (sic) — MERTENS 1934 Rhabdophis chrysargus chrysargus — BOURRET 1936 Natrix chrysarga — SMITH 1943 Rhabdophis chrysarga — MALNATE 1960 Rhabdophis chrysargus — TAYLOR 1965: 862 Natrix chrysarga — HENDRICKSON 1966: 67 Rhabdophis chrysargus — GRANDISON 1978: 293 Rhabdophis chrysarga — MANTHEY & DENZER 1982 Rhabdophis chrysargos — MANTHEY & GROSSMANN 1997: 387 Rhabdophis chrysargus [sic] — COX et al. 1998: 46 Rhabdophis chrysarga — STUEBING & INGER 1999 Rhabdophis chrysargos — ZIEGLER 2002: 256 Rhabdophis chrysargos — WALLACH et al. 2014: 634
Some species of this genus are venomous although this particular species may be harmless (Peter Verhaart, pers. comm.). Distribution: The latest record of this species from Sulawesi is from SCHLEGEL 1837. Specimens also may have been confused with R. chrysargoides. DE LANG & VOGEL (2005) thus consider this species as doubtful for this island. Not in Hong Kong fide Francis 2021. Synonymy: partly fide BOULENGER 1891. Behavior: diurnal.
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
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.