Vince_Adam Photography
IMG_8847-0(W) Malayan Dragon Snake (Xenodermus javanicus) in a stiff position after I captured it!
[LIFER] 2017
This is by far my "star" find for 2017. I was stunned to find this species in Peninsular Malaysia, at the same time I was mad at myself because I forgot to bring my macro lens (to be honest this was not a herping trip to begin with). God must be playing a huge joke on me or did my luck just ran out? Hence, no close-up shots.
Location: Peninsular Malaysia (after consulting with a few prominent herpetologists, although this is not the first record in Peninsular Malaysia. Nevertheless, I am still very thrill to had found it.
Distribution: Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Indonesia (Java, Kalimantan).
Description: The dragon snake is under the monotypic genus Xenodermus which means it is the only species under the genus. There are no other subspecies known to experts. Xenodermus javanicus was first identified in 1836 by a Danish zoologist.
The species scientific name derives from the Greek words "xeno" meaning strange and "derma" meaning skin, referring to their very strange looking skin, at least for a snake. There three rows of large, keeled scales that run down the center of its back, somewhat like the ridge of hair
Also known as the Javan tubercle snake, Javan mud snake, rough-backed litter snake.
Behavior: Known for its “stiff/freeze behavior” in which the snake will stiffen up, almost like a stick, in any given position when touched or startled. Docile species, it did not attempt to attack nor bite.
Max length: 2.5 ft. (this specimen was a very young one, probably less than 1 ft).
From the current known literature, its diet consists of tadpoles, frogs and small fish probably insects and worms too. It probably lay 2-4 eggs in each clutch.
IMG_8847-0(W) Malayan Dragon Snake (Xenodermus javanicus) in a stiff position after I captured it!
[LIFER] 2017
This is by far my "star" find for 2017. I was stunned to find this species in Peninsular Malaysia, at the same time I was mad at myself because I forgot to bring my macro lens (to be honest this was not a herping trip to begin with). God must be playing a huge joke on me or did my luck just ran out? Hence, no close-up shots.
Location: Peninsular Malaysia (after consulting with a few prominent herpetologists, although this is not the first record in Peninsular Malaysia. Nevertheless, I am still very thrill to had found it.
Distribution: Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Indonesia (Java, Kalimantan).
Description: The dragon snake is under the monotypic genus Xenodermus which means it is the only species under the genus. There are no other subspecies known to experts. Xenodermus javanicus was first identified in 1836 by a Danish zoologist.
The species scientific name derives from the Greek words "xeno" meaning strange and "derma" meaning skin, referring to their very strange looking skin, at least for a snake. There three rows of large, keeled scales that run down the center of its back, somewhat like the ridge of hair
Also known as the Javan tubercle snake, Javan mud snake, rough-backed litter snake.
Behavior: Known for its “stiff/freeze behavior” in which the snake will stiffen up, almost like a stick, in any given position when touched or startled. Docile species, it did not attempt to attack nor bite.
Max length: 2.5 ft. (this specimen was a very young one, probably less than 1 ft).
From the current known literature, its diet consists of tadpoles, frogs and small fish probably insects and worms too. It probably lay 2-4 eggs in each clutch.