I cant seem to identify this one, it was only small but very feisty, striking quite a lot. It kept offering me its tail underneath which when turned over was bright red all on its underbelly.

I bludgeoned it to death later in the good Thai/farang tradition, after all I might have had a baby outside on the lawn etc etc

Ok I moved it really.

I would have guessed a type of keelback, but his behavior and the red belly doesn't match.

How big was it and what part of Thailand

There are red bellied snakes in North America, but this doesn't match those either.

Edited February 28, 201313 yr by canuckamuck

Pranburi inland 16km from the sea on dry rocky land, about 10 inches long , pencil thickness, when it felt really threatened it offered me its tail curling it up showing the bright red, guess this is a defence mechanism where the predator then attacks the tail leaving the head safe.

Looks like it was a striped kukri snake as this has the red underbelly and curls its tail up when threatened, harmless venomless and cute hahahah

http://bangkokherps.wordpress.com/category/snakes/primarily-blackbrown-snakes/

I found this pic on the net which confirms it with its red belly

Sounds like a type of Kukri Snake - very aggressive and presents tail as a distraction. Non - venomous. I would be interested if someone could give a definitive ID.

You guys are too fast for me - posted while I was researching. i agree on Kukri then.

Looks like it was a striped kukri snake as this has the red underbelly and curls its tail up when threatened, harmless venomless and cute hahahah

http://bangkokherps.wordpress.com/category/snakes/primarily-blackbrown-snakes/

A slashing bite that is slow to heal is common to Kukri snakes.

Snakes and other reptiles of Thailand abs South-East Asia is a useful book. Not perfect but useful.

I was once told, in Queensland, by a wild life ranger who specialises in snakes,that a general 'rule of thumb' is, if the snake has a broad head it will not be venomous but if the head is narrow then expect it to be venomous. Bye the way, Queensland has the ten most deadly venomous snakes in the world, far more deadly than the Cobra.

Looks like it was a striped kukri snake as this has the red underbelly and curls its tail up when threatened, harmless venomless and cute hahahah

http://bangkokherps.wordpress.com/category/snakes/primarily-blackbrown-snakes/

A slashing bite that is slow to heal is common to Kukri snakes.

Snakes and other reptiles of Thailand abs South-East Asia is a useful book. Not perfect but useful.

I never ever pick up any snakes as identification is always difficult but i do try and move them somewhere else if possible.

Oh yeah he tried biting many times at my stick and offering me his tail curled up, he was feisty alright.

I was once told, in Queensland, by a wild life ranger who specialises in snakes,that a general 'rule of thumb' is, if the snake has a broad head it will not be venomous but if the head is narrow then expect it to be venomous. Bye the way, Queensland has the ten most deadly venomous snakes in the world, far more deadly than the Cobra.

I wouldnt rely on that too much as pit vipers have broad heads and are pretty lethal

10 inches long , pencil thickness

Sounds scary.

I was once told, in Queensland, by a wild life ranger who specialises in snakes,that a general 'rule of thumb' is, if the snake has a broad head it will not be venomous but if the head is narrow then expect it to be venomous. Bye the way, Queensland has the ten most deadly venomous snakes in the world, far more deadly than the Cobra.

I wouldnt rely on that too much as pit vipers have broad heads and are pretty lethal

Google venomous snakes broad or narrow heads suggest broad head is the venomous type. Makes room for the venom glands.

10 inches long , pencil thickness

Sounds scary.

Baby snakes can't control the bite. If venomous you get the full delivery. Adult snakes can give a dry bite.

10 inches long , pencil thickness

Sounds scary.

Dont ever be fooled by the size of a snake, the tiddlers can be the worst, ie baby cobras. Most of the lethal ones are surprisingly small

10 inches long , pencil thickness

Sounds scary.

Baby snakes can't control the bite. If venomous you get the full delivery. Adult snakes can give a dry bite.

Yes very true, had a Malayan Pit Viper last month, although had read reports of them having erratic disposition this one was very docile at the time and easily moved off our land.

Yes, I undestand, my reply was a bit of tongue in cheek. I kill all snakes I spot in my garden.

Yes, I undestand, my reply was a bit of tongue in cheek. I kill all snakes I spot in my garden.

no need to kill em just move em elsewhere they are good for the environment, Im not really a snake fan but I do find them interesting and quite beautiful but treat them with respect, majority run a mile if they see you

So glad our Rattler did not kill this snake. Well done.

We are living in the tropics, these animals belong here and should learn to adapt and accept the wildlife that is around us.

I do have words to describe the people that have no respect or morals regarding the preservation of wildlife and other creatures that have just as much rights to be here as we do, but that would be contravening Thai visa rules.

Lots of different kinds of reptiles visit us during the week, plus birds, butterflies and other species and are a pleasure to see.

Edited February 28, 201313 yr by Beetlejuice

I can identify this one, it`s a dead snake, which has been crudely killed out of ignorance.

OP didn't kill it, last line of his post

I was once told, in Queensland, by a wild life ranger who specialises in snakes,that a general 'rule of thumb' is, if the snake has a broad head it will not be venomous but if the head is narrow then expect it to be venomous. Bye the way, Queensland has the ten most deadly venomous snakes in the world, far more deadly than the Cobra.

That's the kind of rule of thumb that would get someone killed!

A safer one is that no unfamiliar snake should be handled by anyone who isn't a skilled snake handler or without their supervision.

I was once told, in Queensland, by a wild life ranger who specialises in snakes,that a general 'rule of thumb' is, if the snake has a broad head it will not be venomous but if the head is narrow then expect it to be venomous. Bye the way, Queensland has the ten most deadly venomous snakes in the world, far more deadly than the Cobra.

That's the kind of rule of thumb that would get someone killed!

A safer one is that no unfamiliar snake should be handled by anyone who isn't a skilled snake handler or without their supervision.

Safest rule if its in your home area : KILL IT ! on sight., if you are out in countryside, just walk away.

Edited March 1, 201313 yr by CharlieH

I can identify this one, it`s a dead snake, which has been crudely killed out of ignorance.

OP didn't kill it, last line of his post

Guilty as charged.

I first read the post wrong and failed to see his last part that the killing bit was a joke. Then I changed my reply.

Damn the edit function

I was once told, in Queensland, by a wild life ranger who specialises in snakes,that a general 'rule of thumb' is, if the snake has a broad head it will not be venomous but if the head is narrow then expect it to be venomous. Bye the way, Queensland has the ten most deadly venomous snakes in the world, far more deadly than the Cobra.

That's the kind of rule of thumb that would get someone killed!

A safer one is that no unfamiliar snake should be handled by anyone who isn't a skilled snake handler or without their supervision.

Safest rule if its in your home area : KILL IT ! on sight., if you are out in countryside, just walk away.

People attempting to kill them are the most likely to get bitten. And they only have themselves to blame.

I was once told, in Queensland, by a wild life ranger who specialises in snakes,that a general 'rule of thumb' is, if the snake has a broad head it will not be venomous but if the head is narrow then expect it to be venomous. Bye the way, Queensland has the ten most deadly venomous snakes in the world, far more deadly than the Cobra.

That's the kind of rule of thumb that would get someone killed!

A safer one is that no unfamiliar snake should be handled by anyone who isn't a skilled snake handler or without their supervision.

Safest rule if its in your home area : KILL IT ! on sight., if you are out in countryside, just walk away.

People attempting to kill them are the most likely to get bitten. And they only have themselves to blame.

Yeah id bite him for the hell of it if I was a snake

I was once told, in Queensland, by a wild life ranger who specialises in snakes,that a general 'rule of thumb' is, if the snake has a broad head it will not be venomous but if the head is narrow then expect it to be venomous. Bye the way, Queensland has the ten most deadly venomous snakes in the world, far more deadly than the Cobra.

Hmmm most vipers and adders, including rattlesnakes, have very wide heads.

to kill it is neither good Thai nor Farang tradition.

It is Thai and Farang prole tradition.

My Thai wife is calling someone who catches a snake and brings it on a place which is safe.

My mother who is Farang is with 70 still able to kick European snakes out of the house and into the forest.

I can recall an idiot posting how proud he is to kill all snakes around his house. 6 Month later he posted about his big problems with rats.

In some areas in India it is common to have a snake in the house to keep it free of rats and snakes (alternative to the European cats)

Even mentioning a "rule of thumb" for venomous snakes is silly. True, Australia doesn't have pit vipers (the main "broad-headed" form of venomous snake), but you really shouldn't touch any snake unless you are very familiar with the species and know that it is safe.

As far as killing it, like others have pointed out, killing a snake is one of the most likely ways to get bit. Nearly everyone who gets bit by a snake either stepped on it when they didn't see it, or tried to grab/kill it. If you see a snake, and leave it alone, you won't get bit.

p.s. - many Buddhist Thais won't kill even a venomous snake. But yeah, some do bludgeon them. Generally, though, I've found wildlife in Thai cities much more comfortable around humans than in other places.

p.p.s. - And yes, the OP does look like a Striped Kukri Snake.