Tentacle snake
The Tentacled snake (Erpeton tentaculatum) is a rear-fanged mildly venomous aquatic snake native to Southeast Asia. The two tentacles this species has on its snout are a unique feature among snakes.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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PiscivoresA piscivore is a carnivorous animal that eats primarily fish. Piscivorous is equivalent to the Greek-derived word ichthyophagous. Fish were the die...
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BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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Ambush predatorAmbush predators are carnivorous animals that capture or trap prey by stealth, luring, or by (typically instinctive) strategies utilizing an elemen...
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AquaticAn aquatic animal is an animal, either vertebrate or invertebrate, which lives in water for most or all of its life. It may breathe air or extract ...
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OvoviviparousOvoviviparity, ovovivipary, ovivipary, or aplacental viviparity is a term used as a "bridging" form of reproduction between egg-laying oviparous an...
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Mildly venomousMildly venomous animals produce venom, which they use to kill or disable prey, defend themselves from predators or conspecifics, or in agonistic en...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withTentacled snakes are relatively small snakes. They are known to come in two color phases, striped or blotched, with both phases ranging from dark gray or brown to light tan. It is the only species of snake to possess twin "tentacles" on the front of its head, which have been shown to have mechanosensory function. Although it does have venomous fangs, the Tentacled snake is not considered dangerous to humans. The fangs are small, only partially grooved, and positioned deep in the rear of the mouth. The venom is specific to the fish that the tentacled snake eats.
Tentacled snakes can be found in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. They live their entire life in the murky water of lakes, rivers, rice paddies, and slow-moving streams, and can be found in fresh, brackish, and seawater.
Tentacled snakes spend their whole life in the water and can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes without coming up for air. They can only move awkwardly on land. In dry times and at night, they may burrow themselves in the mud. Tentacled snakes hunt their prey using a unique ambush method. They spend much of their time in a rigid posture. The tail is used to anchor the animal underwater while its body assumes a distinctive upside-down "J" shape. The snake will keep this shape even when grabbed or moved by a person, an apparent freeze response. The striking range is a narrow area downwards from its head, somewhat towards its body. Once a fish swims within that area the snake will strike by pulling itself down in one quick motion towards the prey. Tentacled snakes catch fish by tricking them into reflexively attempting to escape in the wrong direction. Unlike most predators, the snake doesn't aim for the fish's initial position and then adjust its direction as the fish moves, it heads directly for the location where it expects the fish's head to be. The ability to predict the position of its prey appears to be innate and when it begins to strike, the Tentacled snake retracts its eyes.
Tentacled snakes are carnivores (piscivores) and their diet consists solely of fish.
Little is known about the mating system and reproductive behavior of Tentacled snakes. Females are ovoviviparous and give birth to live young underwater.
Tentacled snakes are not considered threatened at present. Locally they are collected for the illegal pet trade, particularly in the Tonlé Sap lake in central Cambodia.
According to the IUCN Red List, the Tentacled snake is common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.