The discovery of the common wolf snake, Lycodon aulicus capucinus, on Christmas I . in the Indian
Ocean suggests that individuals of the species have colonised the island recently. On the basis of
biological information for this widespread colubrid snake and for the brown tree snake, Boiga
irregularis, a well-documented pest species on Guam, the establishment of the common wolf snake
would pose a severe threat to the native fauna and ecology of Christmas I. Immediate research is
needed to document the spread of the snake, to evaluate its effects on other fauna, and to control or
eradicate the species before it becomes firmly established.