Full-grown adult hunting for fish or frogs in a
freshwater swamp. Upper Seletar area,
Singapore.
Olive-green posterior body scales on a large
juvenile. Upper Seletar area, Singapore.
Family : COLUBRIDAE
Species : Xenelaphis hexagonotus
Maximum Size : 2 metres
References
: H2, H3
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Reaching around 2 metres
in length, the Malayan Brown Snake is a harmless, largely terrestrial
species inhabiting forests, plantations and swamps (freshwater and
mangrove).
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Large juvenile in
fish-hunting posture. |
It feeds on other
vertebrates, particularly rodents, but in freshwater swamp habitats it is
known to be highly aquatic in behaviour, feeding chiefly on small fishes and
frogs. The typical hunting method is to adopt an erect posture, waiting for
prey to come into range, and then to strike quickly (see image at right).
Dorsal scales are brown, becoming more olive-green posteriorly, especially
in juveniles. A regular series of dark brown bands extends slightly onto the
belly, which is white or pale yellow.
The species ranges from Southern Burma and Southern Thailand, and parts of
Indochina, through Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore to the Riau
Archipelago, Sumatra, Borneo and Java.
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