SUMMARY

• VENOM: None

• PREVALENCE: Uncommon

• ACTIVE PERIOD: Active at night

• KEY ID FEATURES: Olive green or brown body with black later stripe and yellow or peach lower sides, small flat head

• BEHAVIOR: Slow moving and very docile, not quick to bite or musk

• SIZE: Small - 30-40cm

• IUCN: LC - Least Concerned

• OTHER: Can be mistaken with other stream snakes but not easily confused with venomous species

GALLERY

IMPORTANT: Many snakes have significant variance in coloration and pattern even within the same species. There can also be extreme differences in appearance from juveniles to adults so it is important to never assume you have properly identified a snake.

DESCRIPTION

Bicoloured Stream Snakes are olive green or brown with a black lateral strip and yellow or peach lower body coloration. They have a flat narrow head helpful for hunting between rocks in slow moving streams. Nostrils and eyes evolved on top of the head due to their aquatic nature. Generally not exceeding 30-40cm when mature. 

BEHAVIOR

Nocturnal, bicoloured Stream Snakes come out at night to hunt fresh water shrimp, small fish, frog eggs and earth worms. Not quick to bite or squirm excessively they are not dangerous in anyway though it should be noted that all snakes are capable of biting.

HABITAT

Found largely in the New Territories at elevation around 100-400m the bicoloured stream snake is not that common a snake to encounter in Hong Kong. Due to their diet of worms and fresh water prey, they can be found most readily near rocky slow moving streams.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

NO SNAKE SHOULD EVER BE HANDLED BY ANYONE BUT EXPERTS: Can be mistaken for some other stream snakes including the Anderson's and Striped Stream Snakes but generally not confused with venomous species.