Cylindrophis

a genus of reptiles of the family Anilidae. The snakes measure as much as 78 cm in length and are brightly colored. The five species are distributed in Southeast Asia and on is lands off Australia. The best-known species is C. rufus, a burrower that feeds on the Typhlopidae and other small snakes, as well as on earthworms and insect larvae. When in danger it raises its short, thick tail in order to distract the enemy’s attention from its head, which it keeps pressed closely to the ground. The snakes are viviparous.