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Family : HOMALOPSIDAE
Species : Hypsiscopus plumbea
Maximum Size : 48 cm
The Grey Water Snake
Hypsiscopus plumbea is one of the most widespread of all asian water
snakes. The species is also known as Boie’s Mud Snake and Plumbeous Water
Snake. It was formerly referred to as Enhydris plumbea, but was
renamed in 2014 (Murphy et al, 2014).
The term plumbea or 'plumbeous' means 'like lead',
which refers to
the grey colour on the upperside of its body, however in some populations its
upperside may be olive-grey, dark brown or greenish. There may be small,
dark spots along the vertebral line. Its underside is yellow, sometimes with
black spots.
Its body is robust and cylindrical in cross-section, its short head is
barely wider than its body, and its tail is short. Its eyes are situated on
top of its head.
The species typically inhabits still or slow-moving shallow water bodies such as rice
paddies, open swamps, marshes, streams and ditches. The specimen shown
here was found on a manmade structure at the margin of the Nam Song River in
Laos.
It is mainly nocturnal in habits.
On mainland Southeast Asia the Grey Water Snake occurs in Myanmar, Indochina
(Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam), Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia. Outside the
region it occurs in parts of India (Andaman Islands) and southern China
(including Taiwan). In insular Southeast Asia it occurs on the islands of
Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Bali, Sulawesi and possibly other islands
further east.
Fig 1 : Fully grown specimen resting on a
manmade structure at the edge of the Nam Song River, Vang Vieng, Laos.
Fig 2 : View of the Nam Song River at Vang Vieng, Laos. This water body
appears to be rather wider and faster flowing than typical habitats for
this species. It is possible the snake was swept downstream by strong
currents.
Fig 3 : Close-up of the left flank, showing the strong demarcation between
its grey upperside and yellow underside.
Fig 4 : Example with olive-green upper body, from Phetchaburi province,
Thailand.
Figs 1 to 3 photos thanks to Timothy Pwee.
Fig 4 photo thanks to Charles Currin.
References : H12
Murphy, J.C. & Voris, H.K. 2014. A Checklist and
Key to the Homalopsid Snakes (Reptilia, Squamata, Serpentes), with the
Description of New Genera. Fieldiana: Life and Earth Sciences
(8): 1–43
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