Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 3
Fig 4
Fig 5
Fig 6
|
Family : HOMALOPSIDAE
Species : Homalopsis buccata
Maximum Size : 1.2 metres
The Puff-faced Water Snake
inhabits fresh water bodies including swamps, ponds and forest streams.
Nocturnal in habits, it feeds mainly on small fish or frogs.
Juveniles are dark brown
to black, with orange, red or pale bands with black-edging. Adults are plain
brown or grey in colour, and have less distinctive banding. The belly is whitish,
and the body scales are keeled. The species can be easily identified by the
patterning on top of the broad head.
The species ranges from
India, Bangladesh and Myanmar through most of Southeast Asia including
Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. In Indonesia it occurs on
Borneo, Sumatra and Java.
Fig 1 : Fully-grown specimen in freshwater pond at
Sungei Buloh, Singapore.
Fig 2 : Sub-adult specimen in typical hunting posture
in freshwater swamp forest, Singapore.
Fig 3 : Fully-grown specimen in freshwater pond at
Sungei Buloh, Singapore.
Fig 4 :
Sub-adult resting on the silty substrate of a
rural stream, Singapore.
Figs 5 and 6 : Example from a stream in freshwater swamp forest, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia.
Fig 7 : Example from Siem Reap, Cambodia, measuring an estimated 1 metre
in total length. Photo thanks to Derek Clark.
References :
Manthey U., Grossmann W., 1997. Amphibien und Reptilien Sudostasiens.
Natur und Tier - Verlag.
|
