Elephant trunk snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elephant trunk snake |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Illustration of the elephant trunk snake | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acrochordus
|
| Species: |
javanicus
|
The elephant trunk snake (Acrochordus javanicus) is a unique type of snake. It is also known as the Javan file snake. These snakes live in water and are not venomous. They belong to a special family of snakes called Acrochordidae. This family is considered very old, or "primitive," in the snake world.
Contents
About the Elephant Trunk Snake
The elephant trunk snake has a wide, flat head. Its nostrils are on top of its snout. This gives it a look similar to boa snakes. However, its head is not wider than its body. Female snakes are usually bigger than males. The longest elephant trunk snake ever found was about 2.4 m (94 in) long.
Its Unique Skin
The snake's back is brown, and its belly is a pale yellow. Its skin looks baggy and loose, almost as if it's too big for the snake! This skin is covered with many small, rough scales. These scales are very useful for holding onto slippery prey.
The top of its head does not have large plates. Instead, it has tiny, bumpy scales. This snake also does not have the usual large scales on its belly. Its body is thick, and its tail is short. The tail can grab onto things, which helps it move in the water.
Living in Water
The elephant trunk snake is perfectly made for life underwater. It spends almost all its time there. In fact, its body cannot support its own weight out of water. Being out of the water can cause it serious harm.
How Elephant Trunk Snakes Have Babies
The elephant trunk snake is an aquatic snake. This means it lives in water. It gives birth to live young, which is called ovoviviparous. The babies grow inside the mother for about 5 to 6 months. A female snake can give birth to 6 to 17 baby snakes at one time.
Where They Live
You can find the elephant trunk snake in South-East Asia. They live west of the Wallace Line. This includes southern Thailand, the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, and Singapore. They are also found on Borneo (in Kalimantan and Sarawak). Many Indonesian islands are home to them, like Java and Sumatra. They might also live in Bali. Some people think they are in Cambodia and Vietnam, but this is not certain.
Their Home Environment
Elephant trunk snakes like to live near the coast. Their homes include rivers, estuaries (where rivers meet the sea), and lagoons. They especially like freshwater and slightly salty water environments.
What They Eat
The elephant trunk snake is an ambush predator. This means it waits quietly for its food to come by. It mainly eats fishes and amphibians. When it catches prey, it wraps its body tightly around it. Its loose, baggy skin and sharp scales help a lot. They make it very hard for slippery fish to escape!
How They Behave
Elephant trunk snakes are nocturnal. This means they are active at night. They spend most of their lives underwater. They rarely come onto land. These amazing snakes can stay underwater for up to 40 minutes without needing to breathe!
