Rice paddy snake

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Rice paddy snake
Hypiscopus plumbea, Rice paddy snake 2.jpg
From Phetchabun Province, western Thailand
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Homalopsidae
Genus: Hypsiscopus
Species:
H. plumbea
Binomial name
Hypsiscopus plumbea
(F. Boie, 1827)
Synonyms [2]

The rice paddy snake (Hypsiscopus plumbea), also known as grey water snake, [3] Boie's mud snake, [1] yellow or orange bellied water snake, lead water snake or plumbeous water snake is a species of mildly venomous, rear-fanged snake endemic to South Asia. [4] [5] It is somewhat common, and is one of the most widespread species of water snake in Asia. [5] [6] [3]

Contents

Taxonomy

The species epithet, plumbea, means 'lead-like' and refers to the snake's greyish upper body. [3]

DNA evidence suggests that this taxon might be a species complex. [1]

Description

The rice paddy snake is a relatively small snake, reaching a total length (including tail) of up to 72 cm (28 in), although sources vary. [4] This snake feeds readily on small fish, frogs, and occasionally small lizards. It has countershading coloration, which is dark brown to grey in the upper part of its body, and light colored white to yellowish color at the bottom of its body. In some populations, the upper part may be greenish, and dark spots along the vertebral line may also occur. [3] It is mainly nocturnal. [3]

Distribution and habitat

The rice paddy snake is found in the Andaman Islands (India), Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, southern China, and Taiwan. [1] [3] [4]

The rice paddy snake is a common and abundant species associated with a variety of wet habitats. [1]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandarin rat snake</span> Species of snake

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<i>Dieurostus</i> Genus of snakes

Dieurostus is a genus of snake in the family Homalopsidae. The genus Dieurostus is monotypic, containing only the species Dieurostus dussumieri, commonly known as Dussumier's water snake, or the Kerala mud snake. The species, which is mildly venomous and rear-fanged, is endemic to Kerala, in southwestern India. It was formerly thought to be found in Bangladesh, although its distribution there is now disputed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow water snake</span> Species of snake

The rainbow water snake is a species of mildly venomous, rear-fanged, colubrid snake, endemic to Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siebold's water snake</span> Species of snake

Siebold's water snake, also known commonly as Siebold's mud snake and Siebold's smooth water snake, is a species of mildly venomous, rear-fanged snake in the family Homalopsidae. The species is endemic to Asia.

<i>Rhabdophis plumbicolor</i> Species of snake

Rhabdophis plumbicolor, known as the green keelback or lead keelback, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae native to parts of the Indian subcontinent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Checkered keelback</span> Species of snake

The checkered keelback, also known commonly as the Asiatic water snake, is a common species in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Asia. It is non-venomous.

<i>Hydrophis brooki</i> Species of snake

Hydrophis brookii is a species of venomous sea snake in the subfamily Hydrophiinae of the family Elapidae. The species is native to bodies of water in Southeast Asia.

<i>Hydrophis ornatus</i> Species of snake

Hydrophis ornatus, commonly known as the ornate reef sea snake, is a species of venomous sea snake in the family Elapidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spine-bellied sea snake</span> Species of snake

The spine-bellied sea snake, also commonly known as Hardwicke's sea snake and Hardwicke's spine-bellied sea snake, is a species of venomous sea snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.

The Kapuas mud snake is a species of snake in the family Homalopsidae. The species, which is native to Borneo, can change its epidermal colour spontaneously.

<i>Dendrelaphis</i> Genus of snakes

Dendrelaphis is a genus of colubrid snakes, distributed from Pakistan, India and southern China to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, the Philippines, Australia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. There are over forty described species. Asian species are known commonly as bronzebacks, while the Australo-Papuan species are simply called treesnakes. All are non-venomous and entirely harmless to humans.

<i>Boiga drapiezii</i> Species of snake

Boiga drapiezii, commonly known as Drapiez's cat snake and the white-spotted cat snake, is a species of long and slender rear-fanged snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to Maritime Southeast Asia and is common throughout its range.

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<i>Pseudoxenodon</i> Genus of snakes

Pseudoxenodon is a genus of snakes of the subfamily Pseudoxenodontinae.

<i>Hypsiscopus</i> Genus of snakes

Hypsiscopus is a genus of snakes of the family Homalopsidae. The name comes from the Greek words Hypsi, meaning high or lofty, and scopus, meaning view, and refers to the location of the eyes, which are set high on the heads of these snakes.

Subsessor is a genus of snake in the family Homalopsidae. The genus is monotypic, containing the sole species Subsessor bocourti. The species is commonly known as Bocourt's mud snake or Bocourt's water snake and has traditionally been placed in the genus Enhydris.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Murphy, J. (2010). "Hypsiscopus plumbea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2010: e.T176699A7285894. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T176699A7285894.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. Hypsiscopus plumbea at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 4 May 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Grey Water Snake - Hypsiscopus plumbea". www.ecologyasia.com. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  4. 1 2 3 Breuer, Hans; William Christopher Murphy (2009–2010). "Hypsiscopus plumbea". Snakes of Taiwan. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Plumbeous Water Snake - Hypsiscopus plumbea". HongKongSnakeID.com. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  6. Pets. "Rice paddy snake". Pets. Retrieved 2022-09-25.

Further reading