The existence of Bailey's snake was first announced in the scientific literature in 1907 by Frank Wall. It was classified in 1907 as Tropodinotus (=Natrix) baileyi by Wall (1907) before it was realized that Bailey's snake did not fit in the genus Natrix. There are several species of Bailey's snake. Some are burrowing varieties. Although most species of Bailey's snake are nonpoisonous, there are some that have fangs and toxic saliva. This genus of snakes might be the highest altitude snakes in the world, and probably hold the altitude record for snakes in China.