The Rice Paddy Snake (Hypsiscopus plumbeus) is a small to medium-sized, semi-aquatic snake commonly found in wetlands, rice fields, ponds, and slow-moving waters throughout Southeast Asia. It has a smooth, slender body with a grayish-brown to olive coloration, sometimes with a bluish sheen, and a lighter underside. This species is nocturnal and feeds primarily on small fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates. It is often seen near human habitation where suitable water bodies exist.
Rice Paddy Snake
Hypsiscopus plumbeus
🐍 Non-venomous
Description
Venomous?
Non-venomous. It poses no venom-related threat to humans.
A Danger to Humans?
Not aggressive. The Rice Paddy Snake is shy and non-threatening, usually fleeing when approached.
Population Size
Stable
Life Span
-
WEIGHT
30.5 g
LENGTH
48 cm or 50 cm
Aq
Aquatic
Ca
Carnivore
Di
Diurnal
No
Nocturnal
Classification
KINGDOM
:
Animalia
PHYLUM
:
Chordata
CLASS
:
Reptilia
ORDER
:
Squamata
FAMILY
:
Homalopsidae
GENUS
:
Hypsiscopus
SPECIES
:
Hypsiscopus plumbeus
Distribution
Rice Paddy Snake (Hypsiscopus plumbeus) can be found in the lowlands to an altitude of 1200 meters DPL. Usually, these snakes roam in the waters around rice fields, but can also be found in river areas, swamps, or other water sources.
Geography
Continents : Asia
Country : India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Kamboja, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia (Sumatra, Bangka-Belitung, Java, Bali, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi).
Habits and Lifestyle
Usually, these snakes roam in the waters around rice fields, but can also be found in river areas, swamps, or other water sources. This snake is active at night. Even so, this snake is also often seen during the day.
Lifestyle
Aquatic
Biome
Wetland
Climate Zone
Tropical
Diet and Nutrition
The main diet of the Rice Paddy Snake (Hypsiscopus plumbeus) is fish, frogs and tadpoles. According to Voris and Murphy (2002), the favorite food of Olive Water Snake includes small frogs such as Microhyla pulchra, Limnonectes limnocharis and Polypedates leucomystax, as well as small fish species such as Monopterus alba, Anabas testudineus, Macropodus opercularis, Clarias teysmanni, species -a type of fish from the family Eleotridae (belosoh), as well as jeler fish.
Diet : Carnivora
Mating Habits
These snakes reproduce by giving birth (ovovivipar). Females give birth to 6 to 30 tails. Each newborn young snake is about 7.5 to 13 cm in size and weighs about 2.1 grams
Reproduction session : –
Incubation periods : –
Independent age : at birth
Baby name : –
Baby carrying : 6 to 30 tails
Population
Population status : Least Concern (LC)
NE
DD
LC
NT
VU
EN
CR
EW
EX
Population threats
No major threats to this species are known.
Population number
There are no known threats to this species and it is therefore listed as Least Concern.
PHOTO GALLERY
Reference
- Murphy, J. 2010. Enhydris plumbea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T176699A7285894
- Somaweera, R. 2017. A Naturalist’s Guide To The Reptiles and Amphibians of Bali. John Beaufoy Publishing, Oxford, England.
- McKay, J.L. 2006. Reptil and Amphibi di Bali. Krieger Publishing Company, Florida, USA.