SNAKES of Japan

This page introduces all the species of snakes of JAPAN.

Please click the name of snake you want to know.
The snakes are called "Hebi" and others in Japanese.

TYPHLOPIDAE(Mekura-Hebi)
COLUBRIDAE(Nami-Hebi)
ELAPIDAE(Cobra)
VIPERIDAE(Kusari-Hebi)

TYPHLOPIDAE(Mekura-Hebi) The family of the blind snakes.

COMMON NAME JAPANESE NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME

Brahminy blind snake Brahminy-Mekura-Hebi Ramphotyphlops braminus

COLUBRIDAE(Nami-Hebi) The family of the popular snakes.

COMMON NAME JAPANESE NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME

Iwasaki's slug snake Iwasaki-Sedaka-Hebi Pareas iwasakii

Japanese odd-scaled snake Tkachiho-Hebi Achalinus spinalis

Amami odd-scaled snake Amami-Takachiho-Hebi Achalinus werneri

Yaeyama odd-scaled snake Yaeyama-Takachiho-Hebi Achalinus formosanus chigirai

Japanese four-lined snake Shima-Hebi Elaphe quadrivirgata

Burrowing ratsnake Zimuguri Elaphe conspicillata

Chinese keeled ratsnake Chugoku-Syuda Elaphe carinata carinata

Yonaguni keeled ratsnake Yonaguni-Syuda Elaphe carinata yonaguniensis

Japanese ratsnake Ao-Daishou Elaphe climacophora

Taiwan beauty snake Taiwan-Suzio Elaphe taeniura friesi

Sakishima beauty snake Sakishima-Suzio Elaphe taeniura schmackeri

Ryukyu green snake Ryukyu-Ao-Hebi Cyclophiops semicarinatus

Sakishima green snake Sakishima-Ao-Hebi Cyclophiops herminae

Kikuzato's stream snake Kikuzato-Sawa-Hebi Opisthotropis kikuzatoi

Ryukyu odd-tooth snake Akamata Dinodon semicarinatus

Red banded odd-tooth snake Aka-Madara Dinodon rufozonatus rufozonatus

Sakishima odd-tooth snake Sakishima-Madara Dinodon rufozonatus walli

Oriental odd-tooth snake Shiro-Madara Dinodon orientalis

White banded wolf snake Sakishima-Baikada Lycodon ruhstrati maltifasciatus

Pfeffer's reed snake Okinawa-Hime-Hebi Calamaria pfefferri

Miyara's collared reed snake Miyara-Hime-Hebi Calamaria pavimentata miyarai

Japanese keelback Hibakari Amphiesma vibakari vibakari

Danzyo keelback Danzyo-Hibakari Amphiesma vibakari danzyoensis

Miyako keelback Miyako-Hiba Amphiesma pryeri concelarum

Pryer's keelback snake Garasu-Hiba Amphiesma pryeri pryeri

Yaeyama keelback Yaeyama-Hiba Amphiesma pryeri ishigakiense

Tiger keelback Yamakagashi Rhabdophis tigrinus

ELAPIDAE(Cobra) The family of cobras, beautiful snakes and sea snakes.

COMMON NAME JAPANESE NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME

Iwasaki's coral snake Iwasaki-Wamon-Beni-Hebi Calliophis macclellandi iwasakii

Hyan (Amami) coral snake Hyan Calliophis japonicus japonicus

Hai (Okinawa) coral snake Hai Calliophis japonicus boettgeri

Banded amphibious sea snake Hiroo-Umi-Hebi Laticauda laticaudata

Yellow-lipped sea snake Ao-Madara-Umi-Hebi Laticauda colubrina

Erabu sea snake Erabu-Umi-Hebi Laticauda semifasciata

Ijima's turtle-headed sea snake Iijima-Umi-Hebi Emydocephalus ijimae

Black-headed sea snake Kuro-Gashira-Umi-Hebi Hydrophis melanocephalus

Banded sea snake Madara-Umi-Hebi Hydrophis cyanocinctus

Ryukyu ornated sea snake Kuro-Boshi-Umi-Hebi Hydrophis ornatus maresinensis

Hardwicke's sea snake Toge-Umi-Hebi Lapemis curtus

Pelagic sea snake Seguro-Umi-Hebi Pelamis platurus

VIPERIDAE(Kusari-Hebi) The family of poisonous snakes.

COMMON NAME JAPANESE NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME

Japanese mamushi Nihon-Mamushi Gloydius blomhoffii

Tsushima mamushi Tsushima-Mamushi Gloydius tsushimaensis

Himehabu Hime-Habu Trimeresurus okinavensis

Sakishima habu Sakishima-Habu Trimeresurus elegans

Habu Habu Trimeresurus flavoviridis

Tokarahabu Tokara-Habu Trimeresurus tokarensis