Pseudoxenodon bambusicola
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Pseudoxenodon
Species:
P. bambusicola
Binomial name
Pseudoxenodon bambusicola
Vogt, 1922

Pseudoxenodon bambusicola, commonly known as the bamboo snake or bamboo false cobra, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is found in China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand .[2]

Description

These snakes can range in color from light brown to a grey purple with black to red banding down its body. Being that it is a false cobra it will raise up when it feels threatened and spread its neck into a small hood. The hood has a pointed oval ring that spans the length and it has a black band across its large circular eyes. These snakes can reach up to 100 cm (3.5 feet) in length.[3]

Habitat

This snake can be found in northern Thailand, northern Laos, northern Vietnam and southern China. They reside in wetlands near rocky terrain, moving mostly through leaf litter and vegetation close to the ground where they can stay hidden from predators.[4]

Diet

This species has been observed eating frogs, but it likely also eats small lizards, and insects when it's a hatchling.[5]

Behaviour

This snake is active during the day, hunting hidden in vegetation, ambushing small prey. When threatened this snake tends to react aggressively rearing up and flattening its hood. It will strike repeatedly with several false bites before it will engage a true strike. It is rear fanged so its bite, while painful and latching, is generally harmless. It is mildly venomous, but with the fang position and potency, there have been no known injuries or deaths attributed to this species.[6]

Conservation

These snakes are quite prevalent throughout their range and currently do not face any threats to their habitat or breeding population.

References

  1. ↑ Lau, M. & Wang, Y. (2012). "Pseudoxenodon bambusicola". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T192230A2058684. Retrieved 19 December 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ Pseudoxenodon bambusicola at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 19 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "Bamboo False Cobra". hongkongsnakeid.com. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  4. ↑ "Bamboo False Cobra". REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF THAILAND. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  5. ↑ "Bamboo False Cobra". hongkongsnakeid.com. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  6. ↑ "Bamboo False Cobra". REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS OF THAILAND. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
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