Rhabdophis subminiatus
| Rhabdophis subminiatus | |
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| Rhabdophis subminiatus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Natricinae |
| Genus: | Rhabdophis |
| Species: | R. subminiatus |
| Binomial name | |
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Rhabdophis subminiatus (Schlegel, 1837) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Rhabdophis subminiatus, commonly called the red-necked keelback, is a species of venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Asia.
R. subminiatus has a greenish hue with red and yellow regions near the head. It grows to 70 to 90 cm (27.5 to 35.5 in) in total length (including tail).
The red-necked keelback generally lives near ponds, where it consumes frogs and fish.
Rhabdophis subminiatus is a rear-fanged species and was previously thought to be harmless. However, following one fatal and several near-fatal envenomations, the toxicity of its venom was investigated. As a result, it has recently been reclassified as a dangerous species. Rear-fanged snakes need to bite and hold on, or repeatedly bite, to have any effect on humans. A chewing action facilitates envenomation as the venom ducts open to fangs that are externally grooved (not hollow) and are posterior in the oral cavity.
Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Rhabdophis.
The subspecific name, helleri, is in honor of American zoologist Edmund Heller.
The red-necked keelback can be found in the following areas of the world:
The subspecies R. s. helleri can be found in the following locations:
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Wikipedia