Trimerodytes percarinatus explained

Trimerodytes percarinatus, commonly known as the eastern water snake, olive keelback, olive annulate keelback or Chinese keelback water snake, is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae.

Taxonomy

The type locality for T. percarinatus is Guadun (formerly spelled as Kuatun), Wuyishan City (former Chongan County) in NW Fujian, China.

Subspecies

The subspecies Trimerodytes percarinatus suriki is endemic to Taiwan where it occurs in the whole country.^[1]

Description

T. percarinatus is a defensive snake that bites readily when caught, but it is not venomous.^[1] It is a medium-sized snake, typically attaining a total length (including tail) of 70cm-90cmcm (30inches-40inchescm), but may grow up to 110cm (40inches). An adult female usually lays 4 to 13 eggs, but may lay as many as 25 eggs.^[1]

Distribution and habitat

T. percarinatus is found in NE India (Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh), Myanmar (= Burma), Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, S China (Hainan, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Hubei), Hong Kong, and Taiwan. It is an aquatic species associated with hilly areas.^[2]

Diet

T. percarinatus preys on shrimps, frogs (including tadpoles), and fish.^[1]

Further reading

• Smith MA (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. (Natrix percarinata, p. 299).

Notes and References

1. Web site: Breuer, Hans. Murphy, William Christopher. 2009–2010. Sinonatrix percarinata suriki . Snakes of Taiwan. 15 October 2012. 11 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190911183339/http://snakesoftaiwan.com/Sinonatrix%20percarinata%20suriki/species_sinonatrix_percarinata.htm. dead.
2. Web site: Sinonatrix percarinata percarinata (Boulenger, 1899). 2012. Reptiles of Hong Kong. Ecological Restoration and Conservation Laboratory, HKU. 15 October 2012.