.. index::
pair: Ruffus; Etymology
pair: Ruffus; Name origins
Cylindrophis ruffus is the name of the red-tailed pipe snake (bad python-y pun) which can be found in Hong Kong where the author Leo Goodstadt comes from.
Ruffus is a shy creature, and pretends to be a cobra or a banded krait by putting up its red tail and ducking its head in its coils when startled.
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Be careful not to step on one when running down country park lanes at full speed in Hong Kong: this snake is a rare breed!
Ruffus does most of its work at night and sleeps during the day: typical of many (but alas not all) python programmers!
The original red-tail pipe and banded krait images are from wikimedia.
