I spotted this snake as it investigated a large buttress and called out "snake!" to my Malaysian companion and guide, Kurt "Orion" G. I didn't know my Malaysian snakes well enough to distinguish this harmless Wolf Snake from, e.g., a cobra, but Kurt certainly did. We detained the snake and moved it to a spot on a nearby trail where we hoped to pose it for photos. The snake had a different idea and rocketed off into the forest approximately a quarter of a second after the grip on it was released, never to be seen again.

My Travelogues and Trip Lists page includes a complete list of the herps I saw in the wild on this trip to Malaysia, as well as a travelogue of the trip.

A year later, Kurt found and wrangled another adult of this species, so I got a chance to see what their heads actually look like.

Youngsters look quite different, with many narrow white crossbands.