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| snakes text index | photo index |
| Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrata > Class Reptilia > shore snakes |
| Puff-faced
water snake Homalopsis buccata Family Homalopsidae updated Oct 09 Where seen? In a suitable freshwater habitat, they can be quite common. According to Baker, in Singapore, they are common in inland water bodies in rural areas and forests. However, they are only active at night. |
 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Aug 06 |
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Elsewhere, they
are found in rivers, swamps, canals and ponds. They are considered
a pest on freshwater fish farms. Features: To about 1.2m long. It has a brown stripe through the eye that forms a kind of W-shaped dark mask around the head, and dark-edged brown bands on a paler brown body. The bands tend to be faded in adults which may be a uniform grey-brown, while juveniles have black bands on red, orange or white. Mildly venomous, it is a gentle snake and will not bite if it is left alone. What does it eat? It eats mainly fishes. Also frogs. Baby snakes: Mama snake gives birth to live young in litters of 2-20. Status and threats: Our Puff-faced water snakes are listed as 'Vulnerable' on the Red List of threatened animals of Singapore. |
 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Aug 06  |
Links
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Singapore Science Centre. 160 pp.
Vertebrate Study Group, Nature Society (Singapore). 180 pp.
Natural History Publications (Borneo). 254 pp.
New Holland. pp 144.|
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