The banded Malayan coral snake is a small, slender venomous snake that spends most of its life hidden in leaf litter. It is uncommon but widespread in Singapore, turning up in forests as well as in leafy parks and gardens. Its belly and tail carry bold warning colours that it flashes when threatened.
How to recognise it
This is a thin snake, no thicker than a pencil, with a small head that barely differs from the neck and a short tail. The form found in Singapore is brown above with a reddish-orange stripe running down the middle of the back, edged in black, and a thin pale stripe along each side.
The underside is boldly banded in black and white, and the tail is bright red. Scales are smooth and glossy, and the eyes are small with round pupils.
Its colours vary across Southeast Asia, and scientists recognise several subspecies. The form in Singapore belongs to the subspecies lineata.
Where it lives in Singapore
It lives on the ground and partly beneath it, moving through leaf litter, soil and rotting wood. It is found in forest and also in overgrown corners of parks and gardens, including leafy suburbs. Recent Singapore records come from Thomson Nature Park and, for the first time in 2024, Mount Faber Park.
Outside Singapore it ranges through southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Java and Borneo.
What it eats
It feeds almost entirely on other snakes. Its favourite prey is the tiny Brahminy blind snake, which shares the same soil and leaf litter. It is itself eaten by larger snake-eaters: in May 2024 a blue Malayan coral snake was seen swallowing one at Thomson Nature Park.
Behaviour
It is shy and secretive and is mostly active at night, though Singapore records include ones seen in the afternoon. When threatened, it does not usually try to bite. Instead it flips over to show its black and white banded belly and bright red tail. These colours warn predators that it is venomous.
Like its relative the blue Malayan coral snake, it has unusually long venom glands that extend from the head back into the body.
Life cycle
The banded Malayan coral snake lays eggs. Young ones are tiny. One seen at Mount Faber in 2024 was no more than 15 cm long.
Is it dangerous?
Yes, it is venomous and belongs to the same family as cobras and kraits. A 2019 study of its venom found it is rich in toxins that damage muscle, and its authors recommend monitoring anyone bitten for muscle injury. A 2022 study found the venom can also interfere with nerve signals to muscles. Because the snake is small, secretive and has a small mouth, bites to people are rare.
Frequently asked questions
Are there coral snakes in Singapore?
Yes. The banded Malayan coral snake is uncommon but widespread. Singapore also has the larger blue Malayan coral snake, which lives in forest.
Is the banded Malayan coral snake venomous?
Yes. It is a small member of the cobra family and its venom can damage muscle. It is shy and bites are rare.
Why does the coral snake flip over?
Flipping over shows off its black and white banded belly and red tail. The bright pattern warns predators that it is venomous.
What does the banded Malayan coral snake eat?
Mostly other small snakes, especially the Brahminy blind snake.
More snakes in Singapore
Equatorial spitting cobraNaja sumatranaDANGEROUS
King cobraOphiophagus bungarusDANGEROUS
Wagler's pit viperTropidolaemus wagleriDANGEROUS
Shore pit viperTrimeresurus purpureomaculatusDANGEROUS- Banded kraitBungarus fasciatusDANGEROUS
Reticulated pythonMalayopython reticulatusGIVE SPACE
Dog-faced water snakeCerberus schneideriiGIVE SPACE
Paradise tree snakeChrysopelea paradisiGIVE SPACE
Oriental whip snakeAhaetulla prasinaGIVE SPACE
Painted bronzebackDendrelaphis pictusGIVE SPACE
Striped bronzebackDendrelaphis caudolineatusGIVE SPACE
Common wolf snakeLycodon capucinusGIVE SPACE
Brahminy blind snakeIndotyphlops braminusHARMLESS