Snakes of Cambodia

Venomous snakes of Cambodia: Sightings of this elusive Elapid are rare. Though it is highly venomous it does not have an aggressive temperament by day. At nights it is more active and potentially more dangerous. The species occurs in a variety of habitats including forests, agricultural and coastal areas. It is often encountered close to water bodies.  It feeds on other vertebrates including rodents, lizards and other snakes. The Banded Krait is easily identified by the alternating black and yellow bands, which are of equal thickness and extend onto the ventral surface. The body is triangular in cross-section.   Kraits usually range between 1 to 1.5 m in length, although specimens as large as 2 m have been observed. The Banded Krait (B. fasciatus) may grow as large as 2.5 m. Most species of krait are covered in smooth glossy scales that are arranged in bold striped patterns of alternating black and light-colored areas. This gives the snake camouflage in its habitat of grassland and scrub jungle. The scales along the dorsal ridge of the back are hexagonal. The head is slender and the eyes have round pupils. Kraits have a pronounced dorso-lateral flattening, and are triangular in cross-section. The tail tapers to a thin point.     This is a medium-sized cobra with rather thick body. Body color of this species varied from grey, brown and black, with white spots or stripes. Sometimes these spots or stripes can cover so much of the body of the snake that the whole snake looks white. Adults are usually 90 cm (3 ft) to 120 cm (4 ft) in length while some can reach a maximum of 1.6 metres (~5 ft 5 in) in length. This species should not be confused with the Monocled cobra as they share the similar habitat, size and appearance. It occupies a range of habitats from lowland to hills and from plains to woodland. It can also be found in villages due to its diet of rodents.   Body scales are smooth and arranged in 19-21 (usually 21) longitudinal rows at mid-body; throat is pale, scarcely any dark mottling, often followed by a single dark band, ventro-lateral throat spots distinct; remainder of venter either pale or increasingly cloudy with darker pigmentation towards the rear; in adults, hood markings are usually distinct, usually a pale, oval or circular marking, with a dark center and occasionally a narrow dark outer border; occasionally 1 or 2 dark spots are present in the pale oval; fangs not modified for spitting, venom discharge orifice is large; ventrals 164-196; subcaudals 43-58. Total length 1500 mm; tail length 230 mm.   The King Cobra is a large and powerful snake, averaging 3.6–4 m (12–13 feet) in length and typically weighing about 6 kg (13.2 lb). The skin is either olive-green, tan, or black and it has faint, pale yellow cross bands down the length of the body. The belly is cream or pale yellow, and the scales are smooth. The head of a mature snake can be quite massive and bulky in appearance, though like all snakes, they can expand their jaws to swallow large prey items. It has proteroglyph dentition, meaning it has two short, fixed fangs in the front of the mouth which channel venom into the prey like hypodermic needles. The male is larger and thicker than the female. The average lifespan of a King Cobra is about 20 years. Widespread, but not common, across South and South-east Asia. It lives in dense highland forests. The snake has a preference for living in areas dotted with lakes and streams.   Reddish running into pink tinge toward the belly with triangular-shaped, brown markings bordered with light-colored scales. The base of the triangular-shaped markings end at the midline. It has dark brown, arrow-shaped markings on the top and each side of its head.  This snake has long fangs, is ill-tempered, and is responsible for many bites. Its venom is hemotoxic, destroying blood cells and tissue, but a victim's chances of survival are good with medical aid. This viper is a ground dweller that moves into many areas in search of food. The greatest danger is in stepping on the snake with bare feet. Habitat: Rubber plantations, farms, rural villages, and rain forests. Length: Average 60 centimeters, maximum 1 meter.   This snake grows to a maximum length of 166 cm (5.5 ft). The average length is about 120 cm (4 ft) on the mainland, although island populations do not attain this size. It is more slenderly built than most other vipers. The color pattern consists of a deep yellow, tan or brown ground color, with three series of dark brown spots that run the length of its body. Each of these spots has a black ring around it, the outer border of which is intensified with a rim of white or yellow. The dorsal spots, which usually number 23-30, may grow together, while the side spots may break apart. The head has a pair of distinct dark patches, one on each temple, together with a pinkish, salmon or brownish V or X pattern that forms an apex towards the snout. Behind the eye, there is a dark streak, outlined in white, pink or buff. The venter is white, whitish, yellowish or pinkish, often with an irregular scattering of dark spots.   Total length males 600 mm, females 810; tail length males 120 mm, females 130 mm. Head scalation consists of 10-11(12) upper labials, the first partially or completely fused to the nasal. Head scales small, subequal, feebly imbricate, smooth or weakly keeled. The supraoculars are narrow, occasionally enlarged and undivided with 8-12 interocular scales between them. Temporal scales smooth. Midbody has 21 (rarely 19) longitudinal scale rows. The ventral scales are 155-166 in males, 152-176 in females. The subcaudals are paired, 60-72 in males, 49-66 in females. The hemipenes are without spines. Color pattern: green above, the side of the head below the eyes is yellow, white or pale green, much lighter than rest of head. The belly is green, yellowish or white below. A light ventrolateral stripe present in all males, but absent in females. The end of tail not mottled brown. Non-venomous snakes: Boiga Family : Colubridae Species : Boiga dendrophila Boiga is a large genus of mildly venomous, rear-fanged, colubrid snakes typically known as the cat-eyed snakes or just cat snakes. They are primarily found throughout southeast Asia, India and Australia, but due to their extremely hardy nature and adaptability have spread to many other suitable habitats around the world. There are 33 recognized species in the genus. Cat-eyed snakes are typically thin, long bodied snakes with large heads and large eyes. They vary greatly in pattern and color. Many species have banding, but some are spotted and some are solid colored. Colors are normally black, brown, or green with white or yellow accents. They are primarily arboreal, nocturnal snakes that prey on various species of lizards, birds, and rodents. Their venom toxicity varies from species to species, but is not generally considered to be life threatening to humans. Boiga species are oviparous.   Elaphe radiata Family : Colubridae Species :Radiated Rat Snake Elaphe is a genus of non-venomous colubrid snakes found in Asia, Europe, North and Central America. All are powerful constrictors and help control rodent populations. Ten species are currently recognized within North and Central America.             Oligodon Family : Colubridae Species : Oligodon Oligodon, common name kukri snake, is a genus of snakes native to East and South Asia. Oligodons are egglayers and are usually under 90 centimeters (35 inches) in length; different species display widely variable patterns and colorations. They subsist mostly by scavenging the eggs of birds and reptiles. Besides eggs, species of this genus also feeds on lizards, frogs and small rodents. Oligodon is a rearfanged snake species. They have a set of fangs placed in the back of their mouth as well as a functional venomgland. They are not dangerous to humans though. Oligodons are mostly nocturnal, and live on the floors of mature forests. The common name of the genus comes from the kukri, a distinctively shaped Nepalese knife which is similar in shape to the broad, curved hind teeth of Oligodon species. These teeth are specially adapted for the Oligodon's main diet of eggs; the teeth slit open eggs as they are being swallowed by the snake, allowing for easier digestion.   Indo-Chinese Rat Snake Family : Colubridae Species : Ptyas korros Snout obtuse, projecting; eye very large. Rostral visible from above; internasals shorter than the praefrontals; frontal as long as its distance from the tip of the snout or a little longer, as long as the parietals; two or three loreals; a large praeocular, sometimes touching the frontal; a small subocular below; two postoculars; temporals 2 + 2; eight upper labials, fourth and fifth entering the eye; five lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields; latter shorter than the posterior. Scales smooth or feebly keeled on the posterior part of the body, in 15 rows; ventrals 160-177; anal divided; sub-caudals 122-145. Brown or olive above; the scales on the posterior part of the body and on the tail often yellow and edged with black. Lower surface yellow. Young specimens with transverse series of round whitish spots or with narrow yellow transverse bars. Length of head and body 1080 mm; tail 700 mm.   Indian Python Family : PYTHONIDAE Species : Python molurus molurus A large snake, generally reaching up to 6 metres and in extreme cases over 9 metres, the Indian Python P. m. molurus inhabits lowland forests. It is adept at both swimming and climbing trees. As with other pythons, it kills its prey - mainly small mammals- by constriction and suffocation. The patterning comprises black-edged brown patches on a pale orange-brown to yellow-brown background. On top of the head is a distinctive lighter, forward-pointing, V-shaped marking.  The Indian Python occurs in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. A related subspecies, the Burmese Python P. m. bivittatus, occurs in Burma,Cambodia, South China, Thailand and Indo-china with a separate distribution in parts of Indonesia.   Xenopeltis Family : Xenopeltidae Species : Xenopeltis unicolor The Xenopeltidae are a monotypic family of snakes created to the genus Xenopeltis, which is found in Southeast Asia. Its members are known for their highly iridescent scales. Currently, two species are recognized and no subspecies. Adults can grow up to 1.3 m (51 in) in length. The head scales are made up of large plates much like those of the Colubridae, while the ventral scales are only slightly reduced. Pelvic vestiges are not present. The dorsal color pattern is a reddish brown, brown, or blackish color. The belly is an unpatterned whitish-gray. The scales are highly iridescent, creating a beautiful display of colors in the light.