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Family : NATRICIDAE
Species : Fowlea piscator
Maximum Size : 102 cm
This wide-ranging species
mainly inhabits flooded lowlands including marshes, seasonal lakes, rice
paddies and slow-flowing rivers. It feeds on fishes and frogs, and is both
diurnal and nocturnal.
Its body is robust, light brown in colour, and patterned with large, dark
brown markings evenly distributed in rows along most of its body and tail.
Its underside is pale, patterned with narrow, dark bars. The head bears two
narrow, dark stripes extending below and behind the eye, and there is a dark
band on the nape.
Reptile Database list a great number of countries and territories where
this snake occurs; it ranges from Afghanistan and Pakistan in the west,
through the Indian subcontinent to southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos,
Vietnam and Peninsular Malaysia.
Figs 1 and 2 : A recently killed example from Siem Reap,
Cambodia, near Tonle Sap lake. Its length was estimated
as 90 cm.
Fig 3 : Underside of the same snake.
Fig 4 : The habitat adjacent to this roadkill is low scrub forest, close to
areas which seasonally inundate when the water level of Tonle Sap rises
during the rainy season. Either side of the road are deep, water-filled
drainage ditches, about 2 metres wide.
All photos thanks to Derek Clark.
References :
Das, I., 2010. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-east Asia. New Holland
Publishers (UK) Ltd.
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