White-fronted water snake

White-fronted water snake
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Natricinae
Genus: Amphiesma
Species: A. flavifrons
Binomial name
Amphiesma flavifrons
(Boulenger, 1887)
Synonyms
  • Tropidonotus flavifrons
    Boulenger, 1887
  • Natrix flavifrons Dunn, 1923
  • Amphiesma flavifrons
    Manthey & Grossmann, 1997[2]

The white-fronted water snake (Amphiesma flavifrons) is a nonvenomous colubrid endemic to Borneo.[1][2]

Description

Adults are about 54 cm (21 inches) in total length, of which about 18 cm (7 inches) is tail.[3] Body slender; midbody scales 19, keeled; ventrals 149–157; subcaudals 92–101; dorsum olive-grey, with darker markings; a distinctive white to yellowish-cream spot on snout.

Habitat and Behavior

It is frequently encountered in rivers in the plains and midhills, seen swimming with its head held out of water.[4]

Diet

Its diet includes frog eggs, tadpoles and frogs.[4]

Reproduction

Nothing is known about its reproductive biology.[4]

Geographic range

Amphiesma flavifrons is endemic to Borneo. It has been found in Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Inger, R.F.; Iskandar, D. & Das, I. (2012). "Amphiesma flavifrons". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 Amphiesma flavifrons at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 7 September 2014.
  3. Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families...Colubridæ Aglyphæ, Part. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London. xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I.-XXVIII. (Tropidonotus flavifrons, p. 263.)
  4. 1 2 3 4 Das, I. 2006. A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Borneo. Ralph Curtis Books. Sanibel Island, Florida. 144 pp. ISBN 0-88359-061-1. (Amphiesma flavifrons, p. 19.)


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