Southeast Asian Bockadam

Cerberus schneiderii

⚠️ Mildly venomous

Description

The Southeast Asian Bockadam (Cerberus schneiderii), also known as the Dog-faced Water Snake, is a semi-aquatic species commonly found in mangroves, tidal flats, estuaries, and coastal wetlands across Southeast Asia. It has a stout body with keeled scales, a broad head distinct from the neck, and coloration that varies from grayish-brown to olive with darker blotches. Adapted for aquatic life, it feeds mainly on fish and occasionally amphibians.

Venomous?

Yes, mildly venomous. Its venom is used primarily for subduing prey and poses little to no threat to humans.

A Danger to Humans?

Generally not aggressive. It prefers to escape when threatened and only bites if handled or provoked. Bites may cause mild localized effects but are not medically significant.

Population Size

Stable

Life Span

-

WEIGHT​

30.5 g

LENGTH

The average total length is about 600 mm, the maximum is about 1.2 m

Aq

Aquatic

Ca

Carnivore

No

Nocturnal

Classification

KINGDOM

:

Animalia

PHYLUM

:

Chordata

CLASS

:

Reptilia

ORDER

:

Squamata

FAMILY

:

Homalopsidae

GENUS

:

Cerberus

SPECIES

:

Cerberus schneiderii

Distribution

Cerberus rynchops can be found in lowland waters to near the coast, usually in mangrove waters, muddy river estuaries, river branches, and ponds.

Geography

Continent : Asia

Country : widely distributed throughout India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea and Northern Australia

Habits and Lifestyle

In general, this species is aquatic, active at night and occasionally in cloudy or drizzling weather, moving in shallow water and banks, or resting with its eyes only upward and the nose above the water. This snake is also able to climb mangrove trees, although it prefers to roam the ground. When inactive, take shelter between mangrove roots, dive under rubble or holes on the banks.

Lifestyle

Aquatic

Biome

Lowland waters

Climate Zone

Tropical

Diet and Nutrition

The main food is small fish and sometimes also eats. In the Philippines, the diet consists of cardinal fish (Apogonidae), scorpion fish (Siganidae), eels (Moringuidae and Opichthidae), and gobies (Gobiidae).

Diet : Carnivora

Mating Habits

Cerberus rynchops reproduce by giving birth (ovovivipar). The number of children produced is 8 to 30. In the Philippines the female is pregnant from February to July, and the young snake is born in May – August after about 90 days of pregnancy

Reproduction session : February to August

Incubation periods: 90 days

Independent age : at birth

Baby name : –

Baby carrying : 8 to 30 baby

Population

Population status : Least Concern (LC)

NE

DD

LC

NT

VU

EN

CR

EW

EX

Population threats​

This species has historically been collected for its skin in the Philippines (Gaulke 1998). But, it is no longer being collected for skins in the Philippines (J. Gatus pers. comm. 2009). In 1993 it was reported that 775,000 skins were found in the leather trade in Indonesia (Lilley 1993). It is unclear if there is continued use of the species for leather in Indonesia.

Population number​

This species has a wide distribution and is abundant in many of its localities across the range. This species thrives in human areas such as fishing villages. There has been historic collection of this species for skins but this apparently no longer happens. This species has therefore been listed as Least Concern.

PHOTO GALLERY

Reference

  1. Murphy, J. 2010. Cerberus rynchops. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T176680A7282653
  2. Cerberus rynchops Wikipedia article
  3. McKay, J.L. 2006. Reptil and Amphibi di Bali. Krieger Publishing Company, Florida, USA.