Rhabdophis chrysargos (Schlegel, 1837) |
|
Order Suborder |
Squamata 有鱗目 Serpentes 蛇亞目 |
Family | Colubridae 游蛇科 |
Genus | Rhabdophis 頸槽蛇屬 |
Species | Rhabdophis chrysargos |
Other name | - |
Chinese name | - |
Total length | Total length maximum 82 cm; snout vent length 65 cm. |
Description | Back greyish brown. Anterior fifth of dorsum with black reticulations; the rest transversed by many thin regular black crossbar with whitish spot. Flank with a row of black bars. Head distinct from neck. Upper labial cream-coloured, edge in black. Head and neck blackish above. A white V-shaped chevron marking on neck, connecting to angle of mouth; the marking fades with age. Chin white. Ventrals ivory white, with a black spot on the outer end of each scales. Two enlarged teeth at back of mouth. Scales strongly keeled. |
Habitat | Lowland and hilly area. Occurs along streams and in forest. |
Behaviour | Nocturnal. |
Diet | Reported to feed on frogs, lizard, birds and mice. |
Reproduction | Oviparous. Reported to lay 3 - 10 eggs. Hatchling about 15 cm long. |
Distribution | The Museum of Natural History in Vienna (Austria) possesses two young specimens about 15 cm in length, that bear the label "Hong Kong" with no other data. Since this species has been recorded in Hainan, it is reasonably likely that the record is genuine. Besides Hainan, occurs in Southest Asia and Indonesia. |
Conservation Status | IUCN Redlist: NE (Not Evaluated) |