Colubridae · Global account with Philippine editorial coverage
Ptyas carinata(GÜNTHER, 1864)
The cited diagnosis emphasises keels on several central dorsal scale rows and multiple loreal scales. These are anatomical comparison characters rather than a reason to approach or restrain a living snake. Its atlas account links 1 named island or island-group record to the source literature.
Literature updated 2026-10-07 · Editorial review pending
Explore the island records ↓Species portrait
Ptyas carinata
Image to followThe illustrated collection
Adult · study plate
Ptyas carinata
Image to followJuvenile · study plate
Ptyas carinata
Image to followLife stages will be labelled from the contributor’s information. Images alone do not establish identification or a locality record.
Media provenance
Contributor images are forthcoming. Photographs and illustrations will retain their individual credits, permissions and evidence notes.
One species · Across borders
Explore the recorded countries and islands. Select a highlighted area to see its distribution evidence.
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Shading identifies recorded countries or named islands, not continuous habitat coverage. Uncoloured areas do not establish absence.
Natural Earth · 1:50m · public domain. Small islands may lack an outline.
Explore the distribution
Select a highlighted area to see its status, island records and sources. Each country and island links to the same shared species collection.
Use “Worldwide records” to include distant introduced and uncertain records in the map view.
Explicit Indonesian country or island locality supports inclusion.
A closer look
The cited diagnosis emphasises keels on several central dorsal scale rows and multiple loreal scales. These are anatomical comparison characters rather than a reason to approach or restrain a living snake.
Literature documented · Diagnosis; Taylor (1965), p. 736
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.
The species account records egg-laying reproduction. A verified Philippine clutch-size range, incubation interval and breeding calendar are not established here.
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.
The species account records climbing or partly arboreal habits. It does not quantify the time spent in trees or establish a single habitat preference across its range.
Literature documented · Comment: Habitat
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.
The atlas records Ptyas carinata from these named Philippine areas: Palawan. These are literature areas rather than a continuous range boundary.
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.
Ptyas carinata is retained in the atlas’s dated checklist under Colubridae. The authority is (GÜNTHER 1864). Earlier names and the original source notes are preserved below for comparison.
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
Documented islands: gold · island groups: dashed circles
Island-level records · not continuous habitat coverage. Dashed circles locate groups, not individual observations.
Philippine distribution
Select an island to read its distribution record and sources. Uncoloured islands are not evidence of absence.
Burma (Myanmar), China (Yunnan), Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos (Oudomxay, Bokèo, Xaignabouli), Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Borneo), Malaysia (Malaya and East Malaysia, Pulau Tioman), Philippines (Palawan), Singapore, Brunei Darussalam Type locality: Borneo
The atlas records Ptyas carinata from these named Philippine areas: Palawan. 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
Synopsis of the Snakes of the Philippines: A Synthesis of Data from Biodiversity Repositories, Field Studies, and the Literature ↗Existing checklist occurrence statement and distribution review
References attached to this species account. Island-specific evidence is shown separately where available.
Living with wildlife
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 aidSpecies record
Range noteCountry/island text is not a range polygon or locality record.
Burma (Myanmar), China (Yunnan), Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos (Oudomxay, Bokèo, Xaignabouli), Indonesia (Sumatra, Java, Borneo), Malaysia (Malaya and East Malaysia, Pulau Tioman), Philippines (Palawan), Singapore, Brunei Darussalam Type locality: Borneo
Names through time
Zaocys carinatus GÜNTHER 1864 (not Coryphodon carinatus GÜNTHER 1858) Zaocys (Zapyrus) carinatus — BOETTGER 1887 Zaocys tenasserimensis SCLATER 1891: 238 Zaocys carinatus — BOULENGER 1893: 377 Zaocys tenasserimensis — BOULENGER 1893: 378 Ptyas carinatus — TAYLOR 1922: 136 Ptyas carinatus — WALL 1923: 617 Zaocys carinatus — SMITH 1943 Ptyas carinatus — TAYLOR 1965: 736 Zaocys carinatus — GRANDISON 1978: 291 Ptyas carinatus — DAVID & VOGEL 1996 Zaocys carinatus — MANTHEY & GROSSMANN 1997: 402 Ptyas carinatus — COX et al. 1998: 55 Zaocys carinatus — GRISMER et al. 2002 Zaocys carinatus — ROOIJEN & ROOIJEN 2002 Ptyas carinatus — MALKMUS et al. 2002 Ptyas carinata — DAVID & DAS 2004: 113 Zaocys carinatus — ZHAO 2006 Ptyas carinata — WALLACH et al. 2014: 615 Ptyas carinata — DUBOIS & DAVID 2026
Synonymy: The description of this species has constantly been credited to Günther (1858) but as shown by Dubois & David (2020), the nomen is technically invalid as it is an objective junior synonym of Coluber dhumnades Cantor, 1842. Dubois and David suggested to validate Zaocys carinata using Article 23.9 on reversal of precedence Habitat: partly arboreal (Harrington et al. 2018). This is the largest Asian colubrid snake as its maximum total length is 399 centimeters (Das 2012).
Uetz, P.; Freed, P.; Aguilar, R.; Reyes, F.; Kudera, J.; Hošek, J. (eds.)
Leviton, A. E.; Siler, C. D.; Weinell, J. L.; Brown, R. M.
Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 64(14): 399–568
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.