Homalopsis mereljcoxi

(Murphy, Voris, Murthy, Traub & Cumberbatch, 2012)

Vernacular names

English : Jack’s water snake
French : Homalopside de Jack

Classification

Class : Reptilia
Order : Squamata
Family : Homalopsidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification

Adults grow to 1.20 m in length. Long head with broad snout and puffy cheeks, keeled dorsal scales. Two subocular scales. Coloration dark brown with evenly spaced black-edged grey to beige bands. Head grey-beige, black markings.

Range and habitat

The species occurs in South-East Asia, from from north-west Thailand to Cambodia and south half of Vietnam. Range not completely assessed yet. Lives in freshwater rivers, ponds, swamps and forest streams.

Conservation

IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN (as H. buccata)
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species hasn’t yet been assessed on its own. It is caught in huge numbers in Cambodia for food, likely threatened by habitat loss as well.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation