Dog-faced water snake Facts
Dog-faced water snake Facts
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| Interesting Dog-faced water snake Facts: |
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| Dog-faced water snake can reach 47 inches in length (29 to 35 inches on average). |
| Dog-faced water snake has gray, brown or olive-colored backs with dark spots and bars. Black stripes stretch from eyes to neck. Belly is brown-colored and covered with white patches or creamy-colored and mottled in males or covered with bright yellow or orange markings in females. |
| Dog-faced water snake has wide head and cylindrical body covered with keeled scales. Venomous fangs are grooved and located in the rear part of the mouth. |
| Dog-faced water snake has strong upper jaw and prominent eyes that are located high on the head. Eyes have round pupils. These features are also typical for dogs, hence the name "dog-faced". |
| Dog-faced water snake has glands which eliminate excess salt from the body and glands that produce foul smell that is used in self-defense (captured snakes release unpleasant odor to repel predators). |
| Dog-faced water snake spends most of its life in the water. Its entire body is usually submerged, while eyes and nostrils protrude above the surface of the water. Nostrils are equipped with valves that prevent water from entering the lungs when snake dives. |
| Dog-faced water snake moves across the mud in a side-winding manner. Unlike other species of snakes, dog-faced water snake is able to jump across a mudflat. |
| Dog-faced water snake has prehensile tail that facilitates climbing on the trees. Snake also used its tail as bait, to attract fish (their main source of food). |
| Dog-faced water snake is nocturnal animal (active at night). |
| Dog-faced water snake is a carnivore (meat-eater). Its diet is based on fish (catfish, eels, mudskippers and mullet), shrimps and frogs. |
| Dog-faced water snake is mildly venomous, but it is not aggressive (it is not dangerous for humans). |
| Dog-faced water snake is able to breed all year round, but most babies are born from February to May. |
| Dog-faced water snake gives birth to 8 to 26 live babies (viviparous animal), after pregnancy of 4 to 7 months. Babies look like miniature version of adult snakes. |
| Dog-faced water snakes reach sexual maturity at the age of 2 to 3 years (at the length of 24 inches). |
| Lifespan of dog-faced water snake is unknown. |
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