Enhydris bennettii (Gray, 1842)
Mangrove Water Snake 黑斑水蛇
(Mildly venomous)
Enhydris bennettii
Order
Suborder		 Squamata 有鱗目
Serpentes 蛇亞目
Family Colubridae 游蛇科
Genus Enhydris 水蛇屬
Species Enhydris bennettii
Other name -
Chinese name -
Total length At least 50 - 75 cm;
Description

Back olive-grey with numerous dark-grey crossbars.
A black zig-zag line runs from centre of head to the first cross-bar.
Ventrals yellowish, scales with black margin.
Nostrils open on top of snout. Eyes small and bulged.
Two enlarged teeth at the back of upper jaw.
Tail short. Scales smooth.
Mildly venomous with rear fangs.
Habitat

Muddy coastal habitat, e.g. Mangrove swamp, tidal shrimp pond and estuaries along shore.
Stays inside crab or mudskipper burrow during day-time, also hides under objects or stays on the branches of mangrove.
Behaviour Active in both day and night. Activity may be related to tides.
Not very aggressive, but will bite when disturbed.
Diet Mudskippers and small fishes.
Reproduction Viviparous. One road-killed female contained 4 well-developed embryos.
Distribution First recorded in Hong Kong from the Deep Bay area in 1954 where it is common.
Also found in Tai O on Lantau Island. May also occur further up in Sham Chun River.
Occurs in southeast China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujing, Hainan).
Conservation Status IUCN Redlist: NE (Not Evaluated)
China Redlist: Least Concern
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