Scientific name: Naja sumatrana

The body is thick, and the tail short. The head is distinct from the neck, and the snout is rounded.

This is a highly venomous species which should be treated with caution. Typically this snake prefers to avoid confrontation and is not considered ‘aggressive. Large adults will stand erect, expand their hood and hiss loudly if feeling threatened. If the perceived attacker does not back off from this threat display the snake will then attempt to spray venom into the eyes of its tormentor. Unless such venom is washed away immediately, permanent damage to the tissues surrounding the eye can occur. Envenomation through a bite from this species may result in death.- Ecology Asia

It’s Native to Singapore

Location: Sungei Buloh and Dairy Farm, Upper Seletar Reservoir

The post Black Spitting Cobra appeared first on Singapore Geographic.

What was supposed to just be an exciting encounter between a Dog-faced water snake, Cerberus schneiderii, and its prey turned out to be a monumental discovery when fish experts such as Jiayuan Lin and even Dr Tan Heok Hui from Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum identified the fish as a Ladder gudgeon, Bostrychus scalaris.

According to them, this species of fish is presumed to be nationally extinct and the only evidence of its occurrence in Singapore was based on a watercolour painting by F. L. de Castelnau in a notebook compiled in Singapore between 1858 and 1862. In fact, the photographs you see here are reportedly the first photographic evidence of its existence in Singapore! But even then, as a herper, I only realised just how significant the sighting was when they compared it to the rediscovery of the Selangor mud snake, Raclitia indica, in Singapore in 2020.

This sighting also proves just how rich the biodiversity in Singapore is and just how much there is for us to discover and rediscover. If a fish not seen since the 1800s can suddenly appear in the jaws of a snake, who knows what new species might pop up tomorrow? As Jiayuan says, “if there’s one, there’s more!” We can only wait with bated breath the next exciting discovery the next lucky soul will make on our shores!

For more information, do check out this biodiversity record:
https://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/NIS-2024-0003.pdf

Text and photo by Daryl Tan Photos are copyrighted to Daryl Tan

For more local wildlife photographs and fun facts, do check out his Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/clickingthecritters/

The post Ladder Gudgeon bitten by a Dog-faced water snake appeared first on Singapore Geographic.

Head distinct from slender body, eye large. Scales along middle of back distinctly enlarged. Bronze brown above, the neck region bright orange-red. A black streak on the side of the head and fore part of the neck. Underside yellowish green on the front half, and dull green to brown on the rear. NParks

Location: Lornie PCN – Jan 2024

The post Kopstein’s Bronzeback appeared first on Singapore Geographic.

Jasper Cat Snake (Boiga jaspidea) to any herper in Singapore and it is likely that if he/she has not seen one yet, it is a species that sits very high on their target list. However, as it is rarely seen and is restricted in its distribution, there have only been a small handful of reported sightings in the past decade, with the most recent one recorded in May 2021. Because of its rarity, many classify it under the “unicorn” level, a mythical level reserved for the rarest and most elusive of snake species in Singapore.

There is also very limited literature on this snake species as this elusive snake is uncommon throughout its range. What little is known is that it is arboreal and nocturnal, making it even more difficult to spot and observe. It is rear-fanged and mildly venomous and reportedly feeds on geckos and other small snakes in the wild.

What really makes this snake stand out is how it looks. It has a highly patterned reddish-brown body with scattered black and pink blotches and accentuated by red, orange and yellow highlights, giving it a molten lava-like appearance. Ventrally, it is white except for the front portion of the belly which is bright yellow, and low on its flanks are scattered, irregular white patches. It has a slender body and a large head with possibly the largest eyes of the Boiga genus.

Fun fact: Do you know that despite its rarity, the Jasper Cat Snake is still only the second rarest cat snake species in Singapore? The true crown belongs to the White-spotted Cat Snake (Boiga drapizeii).

[Disclaimer: Credits for this sighting go to Lim Ting, Pearlyn and Peter Chua.]

Text and Photos by Daryl Tan
All photos are copyrighted to Daryl Tan
For more local wildlife photographs and fun facts, do check out his Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/clickingthecritters/

The post Jasper Cat Snake appeared first on Singapore Geographic.

Red-tailed Racer (Gonyosoma oxycephalum), a species of snake in Singapore distinguishable by its bright green body, reddish-brown tail and electric blue tongue.

Fun fact: Do you know that the Red-tailed Racer is a highly arboreal species that spends most of its life living and hunting in trees and seldom descends to the ground? It primarily feeds on birds, bird eggs and bats and is a renowned nest raider.

Disclaimer: While Red-tailed Racers are non-venomous, they can be temperamental and may strike out if you get too close. Please keep your distance and leave them alone should you encounter one.

Text and photo by Daryl Tan
Photos are copyrighted to Daryl Tan

For more local wildlife photographs and fun facts, do check out his Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/clickingthecritters/

The post Red-tailed Racer appeared first on Singapore Geographic.

Scientific name: Bungarus fasciatus

Location: Pulau Ubin, January 2024

The Banded Krait makes no attempt to hide its tail. In fact, it was observed to deliberately expose it and make it highly visible, possibly to encourage potential predators to mistake it for its head and go for it.

Banded Krait is considered to be a coastal snake but can also be found in a variety of habitats including peat swarms and forests, often close to water bodies. It is easily identifiable by its triangular body and the alternating black and yellow bands (hence its scientific name — Bungarus means “golden” in Telugu and fasciatus means “banded” in Latin), although the ones we have in Singapore seem to have black and white bands instead.

Fun fact: Despite it being highly venomous, do you know that the Banded Krait generally does not attempt to bite even when threatened? Instead, it chooses to hide its head under its coils, but not to cower in fear. It does so so that predators will mistakenly attack its tail thinking that it is its head, and this allows the krait to either counter-attack or flee.

All photos are copyrighted to Daryl Tan

For more local wildlife photographs and fun facts, do check out his Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/clickingthecritters/

The post Banded Krait  appeared first on Singapore Geographic.

Largest of all the Ptyas rat snakes in Singapore. Head distinct relatively thick but slender body, which has a somewhat triangular cross section. Eyes large. Front part of the body brown to blackish, sometimes with faint pale banding. Rear half of the body yellowish brown to cream coloured, with distinctive black net pattern on the tail. Side of head and throat whitish, belly blackish. ( NParks )

It’s an adult snake, estimated more than 2 meters.

Location: Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, December 2023

The post Keeled Rat Snake appeared first on Singapore Geographic.

Location: Sungei Buloh, January 2023

The post Reticulated Python appeared first on Singapore Geographic.

Location: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve – October 2022

The post Mangrove Pit-Viper appeared first on Singapore Geographic.

Location: Sungei Buloh – August 2022

The post Paradise Tree Snake appeared first on Singapore Geographic.