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Family : COLUBRIDAE
Species : Oreocryptophis porphyraceus
Maximum Size : 125 centimetres
The striking Red Mamboo
Snake (also known as Black-banded Trinket Snake or Red Mountain Racer)
inhabits hilly or montane forests up 2600 metres elevation. It is mainly
diurnal in habits, and is both terrestrial and arboreal: it feeds mainly on
small mammals.
Its body is slender, and its head is elongated and slightly wider than the
body. The snout is rounded, and the eyes are small.
The ground colour of this beautiful snake is reddish-brown, pinkish or
orange in colour. Patterning either comprises dark bands running across the
body or stripes running along the flanks. The underside is plain creamy
yellow.
Up to 7 subspecies are recognised: these are based on scale counts and on
the arrangement of dark bands and stripes.
This wide-ranging species occurs in India, Bhutan, Tibet, Nepal, southern
China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos Cambodia(?), Vietnam and Peninsular Malaysia.
Although the species is often listed as being extant in Singapore, its
historical presence is considered to be highly doubtful.
Fig 1 : Example from Doi Angkhang, northern Thailand. Photo thanks to Rungsrit
Kanjanavanit.
References :
Das, I., 2010. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-east Asia. New
Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd.
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