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Water Snakes
There are different types of water snakes. They are The Schneider`s Smooth Water Snake,Dog-Faced Water Snake etc.

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Water SnakesThere are different types of water snakes. They are The Schneider`s Smooth Water Snake,Dog-Faced Water Snake etc.

Schneider`s Smooth Water Snake
Local Names: Telugu Multo pam, Ally pam.
The Schneider`s Smooth Water Snake (Enhydris enhydris) is a smooth, glossy, moderately thick snake with rounded snout and rather long muzzle. Its transverse slit like nostrils are placed on top of the head. Its eyes are small and are placed high on the face. Its iris is dotted with golden specks and pupils are vertically elliptic.

The Schneider`s Smooth Water Snake is olivaceous-green or brown above. Its belly is lemon yellow in color. A dark line demarcates its ventrals laterally. It is an aquatic species frequenting fresh and brackish water. Although an aquatic snake, it frequents rivers, estuaries, lakes, marshes and perhaps wet fields. It`s a timid and inoffensive snake not known to bite when handled. The Schneider`s Smooth Water Snake feeds mainly on fish.

Dog-Faced Water Snake (Cerberus rhynchops ) The species name of the dog faced water snake is Cerberus rhynchops. Its frontals are partially and parietals are entirely broken up. It`s a stout, rough-skinned snake with pear-shaped head. Its eyes are small and pupils are vertical.

It is dark grey in color with numerous ill-defined darker crossbars. Its belly is coarsely spotted or dappled with greenish black. It is an estuarine species. It inhabits in the brackish waters of tidal rivers, creek and estuaries and also the sea littoral. It swims powerfully but is anchored by its tail and sways in the flow awaiting for fish passing by. It flicks its tail in water to frighten fish towards its head. It climbs on low branches of mangroves and slips into the water when disturbed. It is an inoffensive reptile and bites only under serious provocation. Under great excitement it emits an unpleasant odor. It feeds exclusively on fish.


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