Family : CYLINDROPHIIDAE
Species : Cylindrophis jodiae
Maximum Size : ~75 cm (Amarasinghe et al, 2015)

Jodi's Pipe Snake was first described in 2015, based on historical specimens from central and southern Vietnam (Amarasinghe et al, 2015). It appears likely that its range may extend into neighbouring countries, such as Cambodia.

This pipe snake bears a series of wide, interrupted bands on its dorsal surface: these are typically reddish-orange, but may be more pale towards the head. Its ground colour is dark brown to blackish. Its underside is dark brown with broken, cream-coloured bars.

Its body is cylindrical in cross-section, but is more flattened towards the tail. The snout is rounded when viewed from above, and from the side.

The pipe snake illustrated here is from Siem Reap, central Cambodia. It was discovered early one morning on a quiet road near secondary forest and grassland, close to The Bayon temple. Whilst being moved out of harm's way it raised the tip of its tail, which bears reddish markings, and also made some jerking movements of the tail as a defensive gesture. It also advanced tail-first towards the observer. The patterning of this pipe snake suggests it is probably Cylindrophis jodiae, or is at least closely-related to that species.


Figs 1 to 3 : Example from Siem Reap, central Cambodia, with an estimated total length no greater than 20 cm. The snake was found on a tarmac road adjacent to The Bayon temple.

Fig 4 : Mature secondary forest and small areas of grassland surround The Bayon temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Fig 5 : A flattened roadkill example, also from Siem Reap, Cambodia. This is the underside: the tail is at top right, but the head is missing. It measured 32 cm total length.

All snake photos thanks to Derek Clark.


References :

Amarasinghe, A. A. T., Campbell, P. D., Hallermann, J., Sidik, I., Supriatna, J., & Ineich, I. (2015). Two new species of the genus Cylindrophis Wagler, 1828 (Squamata: Cylindrophiidae) from Southeast Asia. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, 9(1), 34-51.

Kieckbusch, M., Mecke, S., Hartmann, L., Ehrmantraut, L., O’Shea, M. & Kaiser, H. (2016). An inconspicuous, conspicuous new species of Asian pipesnake, genus Cylindrophis (Reptilia: Squamata: Cylindrophiidae), from the south coast of Jawa Tengah, Java, Indonesia, and an overview of the tangled taxonomic history of C. ruffus (Laurenti, 1768). Zootaxa, 4093(1), 1-25.