Family : NATRICIDAE
Species : Xenochrophis trianguligerus
Maximum Size : 135 cm

This attractive snake inhabits moist, lowland primary rainforest : it is most frequently encountered near forest pools, swamps or streams. Like most keelbacks it leads a semi-aquatic lifestyle and is an excellent swimmer.

The species is diurnal in habits, and feeds mainly on frogs, including frogs eggs, as well as fish and lizards.

It is easily identified by its orange-red or orange-yellow flanks, which are adorned with regularly spaced, inverted, black triangles. The dorsal surface of the head is olive-green and the body olive-green or olive-brown. The dorsal scales are keeled.

The Triangle Keelback ranges from Myanmar, Thailand and Indochina through Peninsular Malaysia and  Singapore to the islands of Sumatra, Java and Borneo.

Figs 1 and 2 : This specimen was found coiled on vegetation one metre above a pool of water inundated with breeding frogs.  Photos taken at Danum Valley, Sabah, Borneo.

Fig 3 : Specimen from Taman Negara, Peninsular Malaysia, swimming across Sungai Relau, a shallow, lowland river passing through pristine rainforest.


References : H2, H3