Chanard's Reed Snake

Southeast Asia Snakes

Snakes ~ Reed Snakes ~ Chanard's Reed Snake

This tiny reed snake is endemic to the highlands of Peninsular Malaysia, and has been recorded from Bukit Larut and the Cameron Highlands. An attractive species, Chanard's reed snake is characterised by the orange colour of its ventrals. The body is cast in a dark orange brown hue with light dorsolateral ocelli.

A dark ventrolateral stripe occurs before the ventrals while the labials are white. The altitude in which this snake can be found is variable, ranging from as low as 800 m to as high as 1,600 m. It has been observed burrowing in vertical earthern walls, presumably looking for earth worms in which it feeds on in the wild. Fossorial insects and slugs have been reported to be part of its diet as well.