Colubridae · Philippine record
Lycodon muelleriDUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL 1854
Occurs in low streamside vegetation below 500 m; an Isabela specimen was found at night on a tree buttress. Its atlas account links 4 named island or island-group records to the source literature.
Literature updated 2026-10-07 · Editorial review pending
Explore the island records ↓Species portrait
Lycodon muelleri
Image to followThe illustrated collection
Adult · study plate
Lycodon muelleri
Image to followJuvenile · study plate
Lycodon muelleri
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
Occurs in low streamside vegetation below 500 m; an Isabela specimen was found at night on a tree buttress.
Literature documented · Lycodon muelleri account; Fig. 89
Luzon field records.
The study flags genetic differentiation within this name.
The 2026 revision uses Stegonotus philippinensis. This page retains the earlier checklist name and address for continuity.
Literature documented · Section 4.3, pp. 13–14
Nomenclatural update; the original checklist and records remain separate.
Biological records are not reassigned between species by a change of genus alone.
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 Lycodon muelleri from these named Philippine areas: Luzon, Mindoro, Batan, Polillo. 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.
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.
Philippines (Batan, Luzon, Mindoro, Polillo) Type locality: see comment; restricted to “Luzon” by LEVITON 1965: 126.
The atlas records Lycodon muelleri from these named Philippine areas: Luzon, Mindoro, Batan, Polillo. 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 ↗
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.
Philippines (Batan, Luzon, Mindoro, Polillo) Type locality: see comment; restricted to “Luzon” by LEVITON 1965: 126.
Names through time
Lycodon Mülleri DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL 1854: 382 Odontomus mülleri — BOETTGER 1886: 114 (part.) Odontomus muelleri — DASTO DE ELERA 1895: 437 (nom. nud.) Haplonodon philippinensis GRIFFIN 1910: 212 Haplonodon philippinensis — GRIFFIN 1911: 258 Haplonodon philippinensis — TAYLOR 1922: 126 Lycodon mulleri — BROWN & ALCALA 1970: 114 Lycodon muelleri — LANZA 1999: 97 Lycodon muelleri — SILER et al. 2011 Lycodon muelleri — WALLACH et al. 2014: 395
Synonymy: mostly after LEVITON 1965. Boulenger (1893: 368) placed Lycodon muelleri Dumeril et al. in the synonymy of Stegonotus dumerili. Boulenger probably proposed this latter name as a substitute for L. muelleri which, in the genus Stegonotus, was preoccupled by a senior homonym. Photo in Siler et al. 2011. Distribution: the original type locality, “Java” is clearly in error;
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
Brown, R. M.; Siler, C. D.; Oliveros, C. H.; Welton, L. J.; Rock, A.; Swab, J.; Van Weerd, M.; Van Beijnen, J.; Jose, E.; Rodriguez, D.; Jose, E.; Diesmos, A. C.
ZooKeys 266: 1–120
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.
Bernstein, J. M. et al.
Section 4.3, pp. 13–14. Current names are annotated without merging or reassigning historical atlas records.