Puppy dog snake of the mangroves
Unlike most other snakes, the eyes of the Dog-faced water snake pop out of its head! So it can peep out of the water while most of its body remains hidden in the murky water. As this video illustrates.
Dog-faced water snakes are very common in our mangroves. But they are well camouflaged, blending in with the mud and the leaf litter. They are more active at night and are usually stay well hidden during the day. They eat mainly fishes. As soon as the sun sets, these snakes come out to hunt. The snake might lie motionless among a tangle of roots, its body in S-shapes, ready to strike out at any suitable prey that wanders nearby. Or it might move about slowly among the mangrove roots, checking out burrows and bolt-holes to see if there is something tasty hiding there.
The prey is swallowed whole. They've been seen catching and swallowing rather large fishes.
Grumpy snake of the mangroves
Another commonly encountered snake in the mangroves is the Shore pit viper. This shy snake looks just like another branch in a mangrove tree where it usually lies coiled and motionless. It is more active at night. It has the typical broad triangular head of a viper and large red eyes on a rather angry looking face.
The Shore pit viper feeds on lizards, frogs and other small animals, possibly small birds. It has heat-sensing pits on its lips to detect its prey. Like other vipers, it has a prehensile tail and can grip a branch to hang on while it whips out the rest of its body for the lethal bite. This venomous snake can strike far and rapidly and can be aggressive. So please do leave it alone.
Sleepy elegant snake
This elegant snake lives in bushes and trees. It is commonly seen on the edges of mangroves and not so much in the mangroves itself. it is often overlooked as a green vine. It is active during the day as well as at night. It eats mainly lizards, but also frogs and small birds. It has a stripe through its eyes that gives it a sleepy look.
Crab hunting snake
A less commonly seen mangrove snake is the Crab eating water snake. It is usually found near mud lobster mounds. It eats mainly hard-shelled crabs, hunting for and capturing them in the crab burrows. It also eats small fishes.
Respect the snakes!
The Black Spitting cobra is sometimes seen in our mangroves and shores. This snake prefers to disappear when it senses humans. If it does stand erect and expand its hood, it means you are not giving it space to escape and it feels threatened. This snake can spray venom into your eyes and bite, so please give it respectful distance.
All snakes will not harm humans if they don't feel threatened. Admire them from a respectful distance and let them go about their business.
Where can I see mangrove snakes?
Snakes that active during the day like the Oriental whip snake can be easily seen at all our mangroves. Pasir Ris Mangrove Boardwalk is open 24/7 and is thus a great place for spotting snakes which are more active at night.
Join the Herpetological Society of Singapore (HSS) walks to spot and learn more about Singapore's snakes and other reptiles, amphibians.
Links to more information
- Shore snakes on the wild facts sheets.
- Snakes of Southeast Asia on Ecology Asia by Nick Baker.
This article is written for Celebrating Singapore Shores as part of International Year of the Reef 2018.
