Everyone knows Hong Kong is a tiny piece of land on earth with a large part being the very urban metropolis built by cement. It is hard to imagine that we possess currently 51 recognized species of native snakes dwelling in here, including 21 species of venomous snakes (6 of them being sea snakes), while others are non-venomous. This density level of the diversity of snakes in this concrete jungle is no less than many natural jungles around the world.
Here comes pics of some of the more popular legless hongkongers:
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There are a lot of other native species most people might not have seen, nor even heard of. Here comes a complete checklist by families:
Boidae (non-venomous)
Python molurus bivittatus, Burmese Python
Viperidae (venomous)
Trimeresurus (=Cryptelytrops) albolabris, White-lipped Pit Viper
Trimeresurus (=Protobothrops) mucrosquamatus, Taiwan habu snake
Trimeresurus (=Ovophis) monticola makazayazaya, Mountain Pit Viper
Elapidae (highly venomous)
Bungarus fasciatus, Banded Krait
Bungarus multicinctus, Many-banded Krait
Calliophis macclellandi, Coral Snake
Naja atra, Chinese Cobra
Ophiophagus hannah, King Cobra; Hamadryad
Hydrophiidae (highly venomous)
Lapemis curtus, Spine-bellied Sea Snake
Hydrophis cyanocinctus, Banded Sea Snake
Hydrophis gracilis, Slender Sea Snake
Hydrophis ornatus, Ornate Sea Snake
Pelamis platurus, Yellow-bellied Sea Snake
Praescutata viperina, Viperine Sea Snake
Colubridae (non-venomous or mildly venomous)
Achalinus rufescens, Brown Burrowing Snake
Ahaetulla prasina, Jade Vine Snake (mildly venomous)
Amphiesma atemporale, Mountain Keelback
Amphiesma boulengeri, White-browed Keelback
Amphiesma stolatum, Buff-striped Keel-back
Boiga multimaculata, Large-spotted Cat Snake (mildly venomous)
Calmaria septentrionalis, Northern Reed Snake
Cyclophiops major, Greater Green Snake
Dendrelaphis pictus pictus, Painted Bronze Back
Elaphe porphyracea nigrofasciata, Red Mountain Racer
Elaphe radiata, Copperhead Racer
Enhydris bennetti, Mangrove Water Snake (mildly venomous)
Enhydris chinensis, Chinese Water Snake (mildly venomous)
Enhydris plumbea, Plumbeous Water Snake (mildly venomous)
Lycodon aulicus, Common Wolf Snake
Lycodon ruhstrati ruhstrati, Mountain Wolf Snake
Lycodon subcinctus, Banded Wolf Snake
Oligodon cinereus cinereus, Golden Kukri Snake
Oligodon formosanus, Taiwan Kukri Snake
Opisthotropis andersonii, Anderson's Stream Snake
Opisthotropis balteata, Banded Stream Snake
Opisthotropis kuatunensis, Striped Stream Snake
Opisthotropis lateralis, Bicoloured Stream Snake
Pareas chinensis, Chinese Slug Snake
Pareas margaritophorus, White-spotted Slug Snake
Psammodynastes pulverulentus, Mock Viper (mildly venomous)
Ptyas korros, Indo-chinese rat snake
Ptyas mucosus, Common Rat Snake
Rhabdophis chrysargos, Speckle-bellied Keelback
Rhabdophis nuchalis nuchalis, Grooved-neck Keelback
Rhabdophis subminiatus helleri, Red-necked Keel-back (mildly venomous)
Sibynophis chinensis chinensis, Chinese Mountain Snake
Sinonatrix (=Natrix) aequifasciata, Diamond-backed Water Snake
Sinonatrix (=Natrix) percarinata percarinata, Mountain Water Snake
Xenochrophis piscator, Checkered Keel-back
Cylindrophiidae (non-venomous)
Cylindrophis ruffus, Red-tailed Pipe Snake
Typhlopidae Ramphotyphlops albiceps, White-headed Blind Snake
Ramphotyphlops braminus, Common Blind Snake; Iron-wire Snakes
Typhlops lazelli, Lazell's Blind Snake
October 24th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Wow, you truly give me a chill. I am in HK for over 10years now, and moved to Clear Water Bay in June. Last Saturday I encounter the first snake outside my house. no harm, police was already there and the snake did not look that good. Now i was just checking on your webside. it's a great information/education. i'll keep your contact. As snakes are the one animal i do not like but it's good there are people like you that care for this creature of God.
Great, great, great.
so now i need a walk in the warm evening air.