Chinese water snake explained

The Chinese water snake, Chinese smooth water snake, Chinese mud snake or Chinese rice paddy snake (Enhydris chinensis or Myrrophis chinensis) is a species of mildly venomous, rear-fanged snake, endemic to Asia.

Geographic range

Enhydris chinensis is found in China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Habitat

As the common name suggests, the Chinese water snake is a highly aquatic species, adapting well to human-altered environments such as fish pools and rice paddies.

Conservation status

Enhydris chinensis is considered common, although it has declined in Taiwan and is protected there.^[1]

Description

Enhydris chinensis is a relatively small snake reaching total length (including tail) of up to 80cm (30inches).^[1]

Diet

The Chinese water snake typically feeds on fish and amphibians.^[1]

Commercial use

Enhydris chinensis are harvested for food and skins, but this is not considered to be threatening its populations.

Medicinal use

Enhydris chinensis is used in folk medicine.^[2] It is commonly used in the production of Chinese snake oil.

Further reading

• Boulenger, G. A. (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ), ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Hypsirhina chinensis, pp. 8–9 + Plate I, Figures 2 & 2a).
• Brands, S. J. (comp.) (1989-2006). Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Universal Taxonomic Services.
• Gray, J. E. (1842). Monographic Synopsis of the Water Snakes, or the Family HYDRIDÆ. Zoological Miscellany 1842: 59–68. (Hypsirhina chinensis, new species, p. 66).
• Günther, A. C. L. G. (1864). The Reptiles of British India. London: The Ray Society. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xxvii + 452 pp. + Plates I-XXVI. (Hypsirhina chinensis, p. 283).
• Kumar, A. B.; Sanders, K. L.; George, S.; Murphy, J. C. (2012). The status of Eurostus dussumieri and Hypsirhina chinensis (Reptilia, Squamata, Serpentes): with comments on the origin of salt tolerance in homalopsid snakes. Systematics and Biodiversity 10 (4): 479–489. (Myrrophis chinensis, new combination).
• Smith, M. A. (1943). The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. III. - Serpentes. London: Secretary of State for India. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 583 pp. (Enhydris chinensis, p. 387).

Notes and References

1. Web site: Breuer, Hans . Murphy, William Christopher . 2009–2010 . Enhydris chinensis . Snakes of Taiwan . 13 October 2012 . 28 January 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130128092320/http://www.snakesoftaiwan.com/Enhydris%20chinensis/species_enhydris_chinensis.htm . dead .
2. Nóbrega Alves . R. R. . Silva Vieira . W. L. . Santana . G. G. . 10.1007/s10531-007-9305-0 . Reptiles used in traditional folk medicine: Conservation implications . Biodiversity and Conservation . 17 . 8 . 2037–2049 . 2008 . 42500066 .