Myrrophis bennettii

(Gray, 1842)

Vernacular names
English : Bennett’s mud snake
French : Serpent d’eau de Bennett

Classification
Class : Reptilia
Order : Squamata
Family : Homalopsidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Small water snake reaching 60 cm in length with long head and eyes placed upwards. Rough dorsal scales, coloration olive brown with two rows of black blotches on back and two black longitudinal bands running on flanks. White belly.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in eastern Asia from South-east coastal China, including Hong Kong and Hainan to north Vietnam and Taiwan. Maybe on Java (Indonesia) too. Lives in brackish water and marine water marshes, mangroves.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : DATA DEFICIENT
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species is locally highly threatened by urbanization and destruction or pollution of its habitat but the impact of this threat is still unstudied.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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