Family : COLUBRIDAE
Species : Calamaria schmidti
Maximum Size : 50 cm ?

There are around 56 recognised species of Calamaria, a genus of Reed Snake. These are burrowing snakes, as evidenced by their cylindrical body cross-section and streamlined head shape, and are thus rarely seen.

Reed Snakes inhabit damp forest floors, only emerging from their burrows or from under rotting logs at night. They feed mainly on earthworms and other soft-bodied invertebrates, and lay their eggs under the soil.

The specimen of Schmidt's Reed Snake  illustrated here was found near the headquarters of Mount Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Borneo, at an elevation of 1500 metres. Its beautiful, iridescent colouration is apparent under a camera's flashlight.

The species is endemic to northern parts of Borneo, in particular the slopes of Mount Kinabalu, Borneo's highest mountain.

Figs 1 and 2 : Specimen from Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Borneo (elevation 1500 metres).

Fig 3 : The forested slopes of Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, harbour a population of this localised species.


References :

Manthey U., Grossmann W., 1997. Amphibien und Reptilien Sudostasiens. Natur und Tier - Verlag.