Justification: Listed as Least Concern on the basis that this species is widespread, occurs in a number of protected areas, and is not subject to major threats.
Geographic range:This is a typical species of the Somali-Masai faunal region, ranging from the Toghdeer region of northern Somalia through Ethiopia's Ogaden region to southern Somalia, Kenya, northeastern Tanzania and South Sudan (Largen and Rasmussen 1993, Loveridge 1955, Lanza 1990). This secretive snake is probably more widespread in East Africa than records suggest (Spawls et al. 2002). It ranges from sea level to around 1,200 m asl. (Spawls et al. 2002).
Rhamphiophis rubropunctatus appears to be far less common in Ethiopia than Rhamphiophis rostratus(Largen and Spawls 2010). This is also reported to be the case in Kenya where R. rubropunctatus is described as being uncommon (Spawls et al. 2002). A survey in southern Somalia suggests that in this area the reverse is true (Spawls et al. 2002); however this was an intensive collection that obtained most specimens from within termite mounds, a form of destructive sampling not usually employed in herpetological fieldwork (S. Spawls pers. comm. 2014). Anecdotally, as many as 14 have been collected at a site in Tanzania in a day following heavy rains (J. Beraduccii pers. comm. 2014).
Habitat and ecology: Rhamphiophis rubropunctatus is found in semi- and near-desert, both moist and dry savanna, coastal thicket and woodland (Spawls et al. 2002); ecologically it resembles R. rostratus, with which it is sympatric in Ethiopia's Awash National Park and Torit in South Sudan (Largen and Rasmussen 1993, Loveridge 1955). It appears to exhibit an association with termite mounds as shelter sites in some areas, but is equally able to utilize tree holes and other natural hollows (J. Beraduccii and S. Spawls pers. comm. 2014). It is diurnal and mostly terrestrial, but will climb into low trees (Spawls et al. 2002). It is presumably oviparous (Spawls et al. 2002). A specimen from Torit was collected close to a house (Loveridge 1955).