Ecology & habitat
Occurs in forest at Sablayan, Mindoro. The holotype came from primary dipterocarp forest.
Evidence & scope
Literature documented · p. 11, Natural History
Original description.
← Species collectionReserved for a contributor imageCredit and usage rights will accompany the image. Reserved for a contributor imageCredit and usage rights will accompany the image. Reserved for a contributor imageCredit and usage rights will accompany the image. 2026Open source ↗ 2020Open source ↗ 2025Open source ↗
Colubridae · Philippine record
Alcala's Reed Snake
Calamaria alcalaiWEINELL, LEVITON & BROWN 2020
- Length
- 37.4–51.5 cmTotal length · type series
- Venom status
- Non-venomousNon-venomous does not mean safe to handle
- Known venom effects
- Not applicable · non-venomous
Size & venom sources
Length: Three adult type specimens: two males (37.4 and 51.5 cm) and one female (39.9 cm). Not an established maximum for the species.
p. 8, Table 2
Venom: Genus-level classification: the taxonomic literature characterises Calamaria reed snakes as nonvenomous. This is not a species-specific venom assay.
Introduction, first paragraph
Venom effects and medical significance are different from toxicity rankings. Do not handle a snake on the basis of this summary.
Occurs in forest at Sablayan, Mindoro. The holotype came from primary dipterocarp forest. Its atlas account links 1 named island or island-group record to the source literature.
OccurrenceSupported
Islands named1
Natural history5 sourced topics
References3
Literature updated 2026-10-07 · Editorial review pending
Explore the island records ↓Species portrait
Calamaria alcalai
Image to followThe illustrated collection
Adult & juvenile
Adult · study plate
Calamaria alcalai
Image to followJuvenile · study plate
Calamaria alcalai
Image to followLife stages will be labelled from the contributor’s information. Images alone do not establish identification or a locality record.
Media provenance
Every image carries its source.
Contributor images are forthcoming. Photographs and illustrations will retain their individual credits, permissions and evidence notes.
A closer look
Natural history & identification
Behaviour
Both paratypes were collected at night, documenting night-time encounters.
Evidence & scope
Literature documented · p. 11, Natural History
Two specimens.
A strictly nocturnal activity pattern is not established; diet and reproduction remain unverified.
Morphology & colour
Maroon above and pale yellow to cream below in life, with smooth scales and 13 dorsal rows. The tail is relatively long for a reed snake.
Evidence & scope
Literature documented · pp. 6–8, diagnosis and Table 2
Three type specimens.
Worm-eating is discussed for relatives, not demonstrated for this species.
Philippine distribution
The atlas records Calamaria alcalai from these named Philippine areas: Mindoro. These are literature areas rather than a continuous range boundary.
Evidence & scope
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.
Taxonomic context
Calamaria alcalai is retained in the atlas’s dated checklist under Colubridae. The authority is WEINELL, LEVITON & BROWN 2020. Earlier names and the original source notes are preserved below for comparison.
Evidence & scope
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
Where this species is recorded
Philippines
Documented islands: gold · island groups: dashed circles
Island-level records · not continuous habitat coverage. Dashed circles locate groups, not individual observations.
Philippine distribution
Documented places
1 named island / island group
Select an island to read its distribution record and sources. Uncoloured islands are not evidence of absence.
Distribution record & sources
Philippines (Occidental Mindoro Province [Mindoro Island]) Type locality: Philippines, Occidental Mindoro Province, Municipality of Sablayan, Barangay Batong Buhay, Sitio Palbong (12.865 ºN, 120.902 ºE), 130 m elevation.
The atlas records Calamaria alcalai from these named Philippine areas: Mindoro. 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
References attached to this species account. Island-specific evidence is shown separately where available.
Living with wildlife
Give this snake space.
Non-venomous · Not applicable · non-venomous
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
Taxonomy, occurrence & evidence.
Identity
- Accepted name
- Calamaria alcalai
- Common names
- Alcala's Reed Snake
- Authority
- WEINELL, LEVITON & BROWN 2020
- Year described
- 2020
- Taxonomic status
- Accepted species
- Family
- Colubridae
- Genus
- Calamaria
- Species epithet
- alcalai
- Persistent ID
- PH-SERP-29CCB76D87
- Checklist checked
- 2026-09-05
Philippine occurrence
- Status
- Present
- Confidence
- Supported
- Basis
- current RDB country listing; primary-source review pending
- Islands named
- Mindoro
Range noteCountry/island text is not a range polygon or locality record.
Source distribution statement
Philippines (Occidental Mindoro Province [Mindoro Island]) Type locality: Philippines, Occidental Mindoro Province, Municipality of Sablayan, Barangay Batong Buhay, Sitio Palbong (12.865 ºN, 120.902 ºE), 130 m elevation.
Knowledge coverage
EndemismResearch pending
EcologyLiterature documented
VenomNon-venomous
Not applicable · non-venomousDetailed research: Research pending
Not applicable · non-venomousDetailed research: Research pending
ConservationResearch pending
Names through time
Nomenclatural trail
Calamaria alcalai WEINELL, LEVITON & BROWN 2020
Taxonomic and source notes
Similar species: Calamaria schlegelii
References attached to this record
The Reptile Database — species checklist, 17 June 2026
Uetz, P.; Freed, P.; Aguilar, R.; Reyes, F.; Kudera, J.; Hošek, J. (eds.)
A new species of reed snake, genus Calamaria (Colubridae: Calamariinae), from Mindoro Island, Philippines
Weinell, J. L.; Leviton, A. E.; Brown, R. M.
Philippine Journal of Systematic Biology 14(2): 1–14
Publisher PDF text consulted, especially diagnosis and Natural History. A genus-level dietary expectation is not a species-specific feeding record.
First description of the female of Calamaria andersoni Yang & Zheng, 2018 (Squamata, Calamariidae), with an expanded diagnosis
Zhang, T.; Xu, Y.; Tan, N. V.; Poyarkov, N.; Peng, L.; Deng, J.; Wang, X.; Huang, S.
Biodiversity Data Journal 13: e165597
Introduction explicitly characterises Calamaria as nonvenomous. Used only for that genus-level classification, not to transfer measurements or ecology of C. andersoni to Philippine species.