Amphiesma stolatum (Linnaeus, 1758)
Buff-striped Keelback 草游蛇
(Non-venomous)
Suborder
Serpentes 蛇亞目
with irregular-shaped brownish crossbar.
Interstitial skin between scales bluish.
Ventral cream-coloured. Head and neck rusty yellow.
Labials marked with several black streaks, radiating from each eye.
Dorsal scales moderately keeled.
A lowland species.
Especially around stream and water channels in cultivated field.
Also recorded in altitude of 290m (Mt. Butler) and 400m (Lantau Island).
Usually found in grass near water while prowling and basking in the sun.
Docile, does not bite when caught.
Also take Microhyla spp. and sometimes toad.
Eat fish ocassionally.
Hatchling 15-17 cm, can be seen in August-September.
Rare in Hong Kong Island and Peng Chau.
Most its optimum habitats (rice field) has been destroyed or abandoned.
Not as adaptable to change as the Checkered Keelback (Xenochrophis piscator), which is more abundant in similar habitat.
Occurs over South and Southern Asia.
