Calamaria schlegeli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Calamaria schlegeli |
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Calamaria
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schlegeli
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The Pink-Headed Reed Snake (scientific name: Calamaria schlegeli) is a type of snake. It belongs to the Colubridae family, which is a large group of snakes. People also call it the red-headed reed snake or white-headed reed snake. This snake lives in Southeast Asia. You can find it in countries like Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
What's in a Name?
The scientific name for this snake is schlegeli. This part of its name honors a famous German scientist. His name was Hermann Schlegel. He studied reptiles and amphibians.
How to Spot This Snake
It can be tricky to identify the Pink-Headed Reed Snake. Scientists look at its teeth and the special scales on its head. For example, the third and fourth scales on its upper lip touch its eye. Also, the scale under its chin does not touch the scales in front of its chin. The scales near its nose point sideways.
This snake's appearance can change a bit depending on where it lives. Snakes from Singapore and Malaya have scales in front of their eyes. However, snakes from Java usually do not have these scales. Snakes from Borneo and Sumatra might or might not have them.
This snake is not venomous, meaning it is not dangerous. But it sometimes looks like other snakes that are venomous. For example, it can look similar to the blue Malayan coral snake or the red-headed krait. This is a special trick called Batesian mimicry. It means a harmless animal looks like a dangerous one to scare away predators.
Where It Lives and What It Eats
The Pink-Headed Reed Snake likes to live in forests. It usually stays hidden in the plants on the forest floor. Sometimes, you might see it on paths or even in gardens and yards. It likes to burrow into the ground for safety. This snake eats small creatures like worms and insects.
