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IMG_7092-1(W) Red Headed Reed Snake (Calamaria schlegeli)

Location: Kuching, Sarawak

One of my favourite reed snake... so pretty.

 

We found one in Malay Peninsular earlier this year (January) and finally in September found another one in Borneo. Found it at the tail-end of our herping walk...near my dormitory. Yay!

 

Scientists believe its colour and pattern mimic (Batesian mimicry) the highly venomous Malayan Blue Coral Snake (Calliophis bivirgatus) or Red-headed Krait (Bungarus flaviceps).

 

Note: Calamaria schlegeli come in a few color forms (head color) e.g., red, dull pink, dull brown, or yellow. More research will be needed to determine if these are merely a result of "polymorphism" or whether they actually represent different species or subspecies.

 

 

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Uploaded on September 28, 2019
Taken on September 27, 2019