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Colubridae · Philippine record

Barbour's Water Snake

Rhabdophis barbouri(TAYLOR 1922)

Length
Length not yet addedAtlas entry awaiting completion
Venom status
Venom classification not yet addedHuman effects: atlas summary awaiting completion
Known venom effects
Effects not yet summarised in this atlas

Rhabdophis barbouri is a Colubridae snake included in the Philippine checklist. Its atlas account links 2 named island or island-group records to the source literature.

OccurrenceConfirmed
Islands named2
Natural history4 sourced topics
References3

Literature updated 2026-10-07 · Editorial review pending

Explore the island records ↓

Species portrait

Rhabdophis barbouri

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Reserved for a contributor imageCredit and usage rights will accompany the image.

The illustrated collection

Adult & juvenile

Adult · study plate

Rhabdophis barbouri

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Juvenile · study plate

Rhabdophis barbouri

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Reserved for a contributor imageCredit and usage rights will accompany the image.

Life 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

Venom evidence

The consulted account does not establish the venom effects of this species. Evidence from related keelbacks cannot substitute for species-specific toxicology or clinical records.

Evidence & scope

Literature documented · Comment: venom evidence

Species-level database summary; literature review, not expert validation.

The cited account does not establish population-wide variation or the conditions at every Philippine locality.

Reproduction

The species account records egg-laying reproduction. A verified Philippine clutch-size range, incubation interval and breeding calendar are not established here.

Evidence & scope

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.

Philippine distribution

The atlas records Rhabdophis barbouri from these named Philippine areas: Luzon, 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

Rhabdophis barbouri is retained in the atlas’s dated checklist under Colubridae. The authority is (TAYLOR 1922). 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
Rhabdophis barbouri — all named islandsLuzonMindoro

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

2 named islands / island groups

Select an island to read its distribution record and sources. Uncoloured islands are not evidence of absence.

Distribution record & sources

Philippines (Luzon, Mindoro) Type locality: Balbalan, Kalinga, Luzon.

References attached to this species account. Island-specific evidence is shown separately where available.

The Reptile Database — species checklist, 17 June 2026 ↗

Synopsis of the Snakes of the Philippines: A Synthesis of Data from Biodiversity Repositories, Field Studies, and the Literature ↗

Rhabdophis barbouri — The Reptile Database species account ↗

Living with wildlife

Give this snake space.

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 aid

Species record

Taxonomy, occurrence & evidence.

Identity

Accepted name
Rhabdophis barbouri
Common names
Barbour's Water Snake
Authority
(TAYLOR 1922)
Year described
1922
Taxonomic status
Accepted species
Family
Colubridae
Subfamily
Natricinae
Genus
Rhabdophis
Species epithet
barbouri
Persistent ID
PH-SERP-3DECB682A1
Checklist checked
2026-09-05

Philippine occurrence

Status
Present
Confidence
Confirmed
Basis
2018 Philippine synopsis treatment plus current RDB listing
Islands named
Luzon, Mindoro

Range noteCountry/island text is not a range polygon or locality record.

Source distribution statement

Philippines (Luzon, Mindoro) Type locality: Balbalan, Kalinga, Luzon.

Knowledge coverage

EndemismResearch pending
EcologyResearch pending
VenomVenom classification not yet added
Effects not yet summarised in this atlas
Detailed research: Research pending
ConservationResearch pending

Names through time

Nomenclatural trail

Tropidonotus crebripunctatus BOULENGER 1893: 262 (non WIEGMANN) Natrix barbouri TAYLOR 1922: 291 (nomen nov pro T. crebripunctatus) Macropophis barbouri — MALNATE 1960 Rhabdophis barbouri — MALNATE & UNDERWOOD 1988: 195 Rhabdophis barbouri — WALLACH et al. 2014: 633

Taxonomic and source notes

Some species of this genus are venomous although we do not have information about this particular species. Synonymy to crebripunctatus fide TAYLOR 1922: 291. The name Tropidonotus crebripunctatus is preoccupied by T. crebripunctatus WIEGMANN 1835 = Rhabdophis spilogaster (BOIE).

References attached to this record

2026

The Reptile Database — species checklist, 17 June 2026

Uetz, P.; Freed, P.; Aguilar, R.; Reyes, F.; Kudera, J.; Hošek, J. (eds.)

Open source ↗
2018

Synopsis of the Snakes of the Philippines: A Synthesis of Data from Biodiversity Repositories, Field Studies, and the Literature

Leviton, A. E.; Siler, C. D.; Weinell, J. L.; Brown, R. M.

Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 64(14): 399–568

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.11512589

Open source ↗
n.d.

Rhabdophis barbouri — The Reptile Database species account

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.

Open source ↗