Family : NATRICIDAE
Species : Psammodynastes pictus
Maximum Size : 55 cm

This small, slender snake, measuring no more than 50 cm in length, is an elusive inhabitant of shallow streams, especially in swamp forest habitats.

Species of the Psammodynastes genus are called 'mock vipers' or 'false vipers' on account of some superficial similarity with true vipers (family Viperidae), such as the shape of the head. The Painted Mock Viper, however, is a largely docile back-fanged Colubrid, and its venom is considered harmless to humans.

The head is elongate with distinctive patterning, the snout is blunt, and the eyes large with a vertical pupil. The dorsal colour is buff, brownish or reddish with a dark, thick vertebral stripe and pairs of light spots either side of the vertebral scale row. The flanks are lightly flecked, and the underside pale.

Though its habits are not well documented it  reportedly feeds on small fish, frogs, and freshwater prawns (the specimen in these images appeared to be in a 'hunting pose' next to a small stream). The species is also adept in climbing small shrubs and bushes.

The Painted Mock Viper ranges from Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and the Riau Archipelago of Indonesia to Borneo and  Sumatra.

Figs 1 to 3 : This 40 cm snake was found in a stream gully in freshwater swamp forest habitat, Singapore.


References : H2, H3