Little Snake

Not sure if this is a juvenile snake or its a small Snake, just around 30 cm in length, seen during a night walk at Tawau Hiils Park.

comments (10)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Deeply impressed with your new series, Albert. Such diversity and fantastic species. Posted 8 years ago
1. Albert Kang
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks, Ferdy.
  I was very happy to be able to find Organism from all categories - Mammals, Plants, Fungi, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fish, Arthropods and Others (from marine life) nice stuff too, not just for the sake of the categories, but also some nice ones among them :) Posted 8 years ago

John Sullivan

Lion

I had fun looking through my Snakes of Borneo book to identify this one. I am quite confident that it is the harmless colubrid Gongylosoma baliodeira. I created a species record so you can identify it as that species. Cute little guy! Was it perched on the leaf like this when you found it? Posted 8 years ago
1. Albert Kang
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks, John Sullivan for the ID :)
  Glad you had fun trying to ID it, also in preparation for your Borneo trip ;)
  
  Yes, it was perched on the leaf as in the picture, it didn't move much at all, until I got too close, trying to get macro shot of just the face/head and then it moved away. Posted 8 years ago, modified 8 years ago
2. 1. Albert Kang
    
    Lion
    
    John, I tried to add the ID but it still says, no record. Did you create the species record under Gongylosoma baliodeira? Posted 8 years ago
  2. 1. John Sullivan
      
      Lion
      
      Oops, typo above. The name is Gongylosoma baliodeirus. Posted 8 years ago
  3. John Sullivan
    
    Lion
    
    I was curious because it is considered a ground-dwelling snake. However, many ground-dwelling rainforest snakes climb up into low vegetation to sleep. Posted 8 years ago
  4. 1. Albert Kang
      
      Lion
      
      Thanks again for the species ID and creating the species.
      
      I found it not very high off the ground, just about waist height, or around 1 meter and it was during early part of the night. I think it is coming out to hunt? Posted 8 years ago
    2. 1. John Sullivan
        
        Lion
        
        Could be. The book says it "probably forages at night", though those big eyes are reminiscent of racers and other daytime hunters. The book also calls it "one of the most common snakes of the lowland forest floor", but the website <http://amphibia.my/page.php?pageid=s_foundr&s_id=168&search1=Gongylosoma%20baliodeira&species=Gongylosoma%20baliodeira&type=reptiles>; says "This appears to be an uncommon terrestrial snake". So it seems like not too much is known with certainty about this species.
        
        Note that the website I cited above does use the spelling "baliodeira". The Reptile Database (http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Gongylosoma&species=baliodeirus) shows that and also "baliodeirum" as names used in the past by different authors. Posted 8 years ago
      2. Albert Kang
        
        Lion
        
        Thanks for the additional info and do agree that infos from different websites can sometimes be very confusing :( Posted 8 years ago

The Spotted Ground Snake

A small snake with head slightly wider than neck and a blunt snout. Maximum size less than 50cm. The eye is relatively large. The head and body are dark brown, with two rows of small light spots on the back. The spots are conspicuous the entire length in young individuals, but fade near midbody in older snakes. The labial scales are white, edged with black.

It has been found in Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, and Kalimantan. It is one of the most common snakes of the lowland.. more

Info 1 0

Similar species: Snakes And Lizards

Species identified by Albert Kang