Identification:
This small snake species reaches approximately 80 cm in length. The head is pale red, transitioning to dark brown anteriorly and black posteriorly; the neck is pale orange. The body is grayish-brown, transitioning to brown with a black dorsal stripe bordered laterally by pale yellow to brown stripes featuring dark spots or streaks. The overall pattern fades towards the tail, resembling Sibynophis collaris, but it has a distinct head, a cylindrical body with smooth scales, a very long tail, and round pupils.
Biology and Ecology:
The black-headed dragon snake is diurnal and terrestrial, typically found near streams in tropical rainforests up to 1,100 meters in elevation. Its primary diet consists of skinks (Mabuya sp.), frogs, toads, and tadpoles. Occasionally, they also consume hatchling birds and bird eggs.
Distribution:
- Vietnam: Lào Cai (Sapa)
- Global: This snake species is distributed in southern Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and eastern Indonesia to the island of Java.
Conservation Status:
The population is very small and rare. Conservation measures are needed, and it should be included in the Red Book of Vietnam for management and protection in the wild.