Identification:
This snake species is small, with an average length of 30-35 cm. It has a distinct triangular head and a patterned appearance, which often leads to misidentification with venomous snake species. However, this snake is completely harmless.
The body is chocolate brown and is marked by a prominent white stripe extending from the eye to the snout. It has large eyes with vertical pupils. The body is cylindrical with smooth scales. The background color is brown or pale red, and the belly is light brown or pink. The patterns are often variable.
Individuals found in northern regions tend to have lighter body coloration compared to those in the south and central regions of Vietnam.
Biology and Ecology:
The primary diet consists of lizards and frogs, and they hunt both day and night. They give birth to 5-10 offspring per litter, with the young snakes measuring 15-18 cm and resembling the adults. This terrestrial species inhabits forest areas on hills and mountains above 700 meters in elevation, but can occasionally be found at lower altitudes.
Distribution:
- Vietnam: Cao Bằng (Ngân Sơn), Bắc Thái, Hòa Bình (Thượng Tiến, Vạn Mai), Quảng Ninh (Ba Mùn), Nghệ An (Tân Kỳ), Hà Tĩnh, Gia Lai (Sơklang), Đắc Lắc, Lâm Đồng, Phú Yên, Khánh Hòa, Tây Ninh, Đồng Nai (Chứa Chan Mountain, Trảng Bom, Định Quán), Ho Chi Minh City.
- Worldwide: This species is distributed throughout Southeast Asia, extending to Nepal, Taiwan, and the Philippines.