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Gerarda prevostiana
| Family Name: | Homalopsidae |
| Taxonomic Group: | Vertebrates (Reptile) |
| Common Name: | Gerard's Water Snake, Yellow-lipped Water Snake |
Name
Description
| Size | 53 cm TL |
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| Description | Head rounded and slightly distinct from body. Body cylindrical, brown to olive-grey on dorsal surface, pale brown on ventral surface. Upper lips and sides of body yellow. Scales smooth. |
Ecology, Habitat & Location
| Ecological Notes | Nocturnal, semi-aquatic, ovo-vivparous. Feeds on newly-moulted soft-shelled crabs. G. prevostiana has been observed to tear parts of newly-moulted crabs apart, hence allowing them to consume prey much larger than their gape size would allow. |
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| Habitats | Mangroves |
| Distribution | In Singapore, found in estuarine areas along the northern coast. Distributed in the coastal areas of eastern India, to the Malacca Straits. |
| Nature Reserves | Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve |
| Nature Areas | Pasir Ris Nature Area |
Conservation
| Scientific Interest & Potential Value | Most snakes swallow their prey whole, and are therefore constrained by their gape size (the size of their mouth when open). G. prevostiana, unlike most snakes, is able to tear their prey into bite-sized pieces by drawing its head through a loop in its body, thus pulling on the prey while its body remained coiled around it. |
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Status
| Species Status | Native |
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| Conservation Status | Rare |
| Singapore Red Data Book Status | Endangered (EN) [2008] |
| IUCN Red List | Least Concern |
Photos
References
| References | Baker, N. & Lim, K. 2012. Wild animals of Singapore. Singapore: Draco Publishing and Distribution Pte Ltd. 180pp Davison, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L. & Ho, H.C (Eds.). 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book (2nd Edition). Singapore: Nature Society (Singapore). 285pp Jayne, B. C., H. K. Voris, & P. K. L. Ng. 2002. Snake circumvents constraints on prey size. Nature. 418. 143 |
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