Morbidity after a bite from a 'non-venomous' pet snake

Area of Science:

• Herpetology
• Toxicology

Background:

• The red-neck keelback snake (Rhabdophis subminiatus) is a Colubrid species native to Southeast Asia.
• Historically, despite reports of severe envenomation dating back to 1978, this snake has been misclassified as non-venomous.

Observation:

• A patient experienced significant morbidity following a bite from a red-neck keelback snake kept as a pet.
• The misclassification of the snake as harmless contributed to the decision to keep it domestically.

Findings:

• This report documents the first recorded instance of morbidity resulting from a red-neck keelback snakebite.
• The envenomation suggests a potent toxicological effect not previously recognized under its current classification.

Implications:

• Reclassification of Rhabdophis subminiatus as 'venomous' is urgently recommended.
• Public warnings against keeping this species as a pet are crucial to prevent future incidents of envenomation.