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| snakes text index | photo index |
| Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrata > Class Reptilia > shore snakes |
| Dog-faced
watersnake Cerberus rynchops Family Homalopsidae updated Sep 08 Where seen? Although quite commonly seen in our mangroves, this well camouflaged snake is shy and blends in with the mud and the leaf litter. It is more active at night and are usually stays well hidden during the day. It is mainly estuarine and not found in freshwater. According to Baker, in Singapore it is common along our coasts, in mangroves as well as seaward side of canals. It is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific. Features: To about 1m long. Body cylindrical with a 'neck' and a broad head. Grey, brown or olive, it may have dark indistinct patterns. A dark streak passes through the eye to the neck. The snake is adapted for slow-moving, shallow and murky waters. It can swim well. On soft mud, it moves quickly by side-winding. Although it very much at home in the water, it still needs to breathe air. Its eyes and nostrils are at the top of the head so it can peep out of the water and breathe while most of its body remains hidden in the murky water. The snake is mildly venomous but is usually docile. Why 'dog-faced'? It is said that it got its common name for its protruding eyes, which is rather unusual for a snake. Whether this makes the snake look dog-like is somewhat debatable. What does it eat? Mainly fishes. As soon as the sun sets, dog-faced watersnakes come out to hunt. The snake might lie motionless among a tangle of roots, its body in S-shapes, ready to strike out at any suitable prey that wanders nearby. Or it might move about slowly among the mangrove roots, checking out burrows and bolt-holes to see if there is something tasty hiding there. The prey is swallowed whole. They've been seen catching and swallowing rather large fishes. One was seen attempting to swallow a dead fish head. They sometimes also try to steal one another's prey. Dog-faced babies: Mama snake does not lay eggs and instead, gives birth to live young in litters of 8-26. The babies look just like their parents. Sometimes, tiny baby watersnakes might be seen. Status and threats: Our dog-faced watersnakes are considered common and are not listed among the threatened animals of Singapore. However, like other creatures of the intertidal zone, they are affected by human activities such as reclamation and pollution. |
 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Nov 03  Protruding eyes give it its common name.  Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Nov 03 |
 The fish is lifted out of water. Pasir Ris Park, Feb 07 |
 Attempted theft of prey. Pasir Ris Park, Mar 07 |
 Attempting to eat a dead rotten fish head. Pasir Ris Park, Mar 07 |
 Swallowing a fish bigger than its head! Pasir Ris Park, Mar 07 |
 Swallowed head first...slowly...slowly. |
 Gulp! |
Dog-faced watersnakes on Singapore shores
 Chek Jawa, Feb 02 |
 Labrador, Aug 03 |
 Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Feb 06 |
 Pulau Semakau, Nov 09 |
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 Pulau Semakau, Feb 07 |
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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