Tentacled snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tentacled snake |
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| Tentacled snake head and tentacles | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Erpeton
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| Species: |
tentaculatum
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| Synonyms | |
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Erpeton tentaculatus [orth. error] Lacépède, 1800 |
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The tentacled snake (also called the tentacle snake) is a special kind of snake that lives in water. Its scientific name is Erpeton tentaculatum. You can find it in Southeast Asia. It's the only snake in its group, called Erpeton. What makes it super unique are the two little "tentacles" on its nose!
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What Does the Tentacled Snake Look Like?
The tentacled snake is a fairly small snake. It usually grows to be about 50 to 90 centimeters (20 to 35 inches) long. These snakes come in different colors. Some are striped, while others have blotches. Their colors can range from dark gray or brown to a light tan. They spend their whole lives in murky, unclear water.
The tentacled snake is the only snake species with two "tentacles" on its head. These tentacles help the snake feel things around it. They are very important for finding food.
What Do Tentacled Snakes Eat?
This snake only eats fish. Even though it has venomous fangs, it's not dangerous to people. Its fangs are small and hidden deep in its mouth. The venom is only strong enough to affect the fish it eats.
Where Do Tentacled Snakes Live?
The tentacled snake lives in Southeast Asia. You can find it in countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It spends its entire life in water. This includes murky lakes, rice paddies, and slow-moving streams. They can live in fresh water, slightly salty water (called brackish water), and even sea water. A great place to see them is in the Tonlé Sap lake in central Cambodia. This lake has lots of mud and many fish, which is perfect for these snakes.
Tentacled Snake Reproduction
Baby tentacled snakes are born live underwater. This is called ovoviviparous reproduction. It means the eggs hatch inside the mother's body, and then the babies are born.
How Do Tentacled Snakes Behave?
Tentacled snakes live their whole lives in the water. They can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes without needing to breathe air. They don't move very well on land. During dry times or at night, they might bury themselves in the mud.
These snakes are very clever hunters. They are ambush predators, meaning they wait for their prey. A tentacled snake will often stay very still. It uses its tail to hold onto something underwater. Its body forms a unique upside-down "J" shape. The snake will keep this shape even if someone tries to move it. This is a special way it freezes when it feels danger.
When a fish swims close, the snake strikes very quickly. It pulls itself down towards the fish in one fast motion. Scientists have used special cameras and microphones to study how they hunt. The snake actually predicts where the fish will go!
Here's how it works:
- When a fish swims near, the snake wiggles a part of its body behind its neck.
- This wiggle makes the fish think it's in danger. The fish then does a quick escape move called a "C-start." It bends its body into a "C" shape.
- Normally, the fish would then quickly straighten its body and swim away.
- But the snake is ready! It knows exactly where the fish's head will be. It strikes directly to that spot, catching the fish.
The snake tricks the fish into trying to escape in the wrong direction. It doesn't aim where the fish is right now. Instead, it aims where the fish is going to be. This amazing ability to predict its prey's movement seems to be something they are born with. When the snake strikes, it even pulls its eyes back into its head to protect them.
