SUMMARY

• VENOM: None

• PREVALENCE: Uncommon

• ACTIVE PERIOD: Mostly active during the day

• KEY ID FEATURES: Light brown or olive green body with dark brown and cream colored or white diamond patterns, heavy body and red on top of the head

• BEHAVIOR: Aquatic, may be found perched above deep pools and slow moving streams

• SIZE: Medium - .5-1m

• IUCN: LC - Least Concerned

• OTHER: Aggressive if handled, will bite and defecate

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

Diamond-backed water snakes are light brown or olive green with black and white or cream colored diamond markings running the length of the body. Characteristic rusty red coloration on the top of the head. A heavier bodied species when mature and can grow between .5 and 1m. Round pupils and a strong set jaw.

BEHAVIOR

Mostly diurnal diamond-backed water snakes come out during the day to hunt fish and occasionally amphibians. They have also been observed out during the night and at dusk during heavy rain. Prefer to perch above deep pools on ledges or on overhanging plants, often sharing a spot with other snakes and dropping into the pools swimming to the bottom if disturbed. Quick to bite, musk, defecate and squirm excessively and despite being large enough for bites to inflict some damage they are not considered dangerous to humans.

HABITAT

Found largely in the New Territories the diamond-backed water snake is a less common snake to encounter in Hong Kong. Due to their diet of fresh water prey they can be found most readily near mountain streams with large deep pools.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

NO SNAKE SHOULD EVER BE HANDLED BY ANYONE BUT EXPERTS: Can be mistaken for some other aquatic snakes but generally not confused with venomous species.