Kapuas mud snake explained

The Kapuas mud snake (Homalophis gyii) is a species of snake in the family Homalopsidae. The species, which is native to Borneo, can change its epidermal colour spontaneously.^[1]

Etymology

The common name, Kapuas mud snake, refers to the Kapuas River. The specific name, gyii, is in honor of Burmese herpetologist Dr Ko Ko Gyi.^[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of H. gyii is freshwater wetlands.

Colour change

The Kapuas mud snake's chameleon-like behaviour was discovered accidentally in 2005 when a specimen was put in a dark bucket. The snake's skin turned pale white 20 minutes later.^[3] Scientists determined the snake to be a new species belonging to the genus Enhydris.

Description

H. gyii may attain a total length (including tail) of 150cm (60inches).

Venom

Like all members of the subfamily Homalopsinae, H. gyii is rear-fanged and mildly venomous.

Reproduction

H. gyii is viviparous.

Further reading

• Das, Indraneil (2012). A Naturalist's Guide to the Snakes of South-East Asia: Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Borneo, Sumatra, Java and Bali. Oxford, England: John Beaufoy Publishing. 176 pp. .
• Gyi, Ko Ko (1970). "A Revision of Colubrid Snakes of the Subfamily Homalopsinae". University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History 20 (2): 47–223. (Enhydris doriae, p. 130).
• Murphy, John C.

Voris, Harold K. (2014). "A Checklist and Key to the Homalopsid Snakes (Reptilia, Squamata, Serpentes), with the Description of New Genera". Fieldiana: Life and Earth Sciences (8): 1-43. (Homalophis gyii, new combination, p. 23).

• Stuebing, Robert B.

Inger, Robert F.; Lardner, Björn (2014). A Field Guide to the Snakes of Borneo, Second Edition. Borneo: Natural History Publications. 310 pp. .

External links

• • http://animalpicturesarchive.com/view.php?tid=2&did=22635

Notes and References

1. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. 31 Dec 2005. 53. 2. 271–275. (Enhydris gyii, new species). A new species of Enhydris (Serpentes: Colubridae: Homalopsinae) from the Kapuas river system, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Murphy, John C.. species:John C. Murphy. Harold K. Voris. species:Harold K. Voris. Mark Auliya. species:Mark Auliya. 2006-06-27.
2. [species:Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]
3. News: BBC News. Snake displays changing colours. 2007-01-09. 26 June 2006.