Trimerodytes percarinatus

Trimerodytes percarinatus
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Trimerodytes
Species:	T. percarinatus
Binomial name
	Trimerodytes percarinatus; (Boulenger, 1899)
Synonyms
	Tropidonotus percarinatus ; Boulenger, 1899[2]; Natrix percarinata ; — Mell, 1931; Natrix annularis percarinata ; — Bourret, 1936; Natrix percarinata ; — M.A. Smith, 1943; Sinonatrix percarinata ; Rossman & Eberle, 1977[3];

Trimerodytes percarinatus, commonly known as the eastern water snake,[3] olive keelback,[3] olive annulate keelback[3] or Chinese keelback water snake,[1] is a species of snake[3] in the subfamily Natricinae.

Taxonomy

The type locality for T. percarinatus is Guadun (formerly spelled as Kuatun), Wuyishan City (former Chongan County) in NW Fujian, China.[3]

Subspecies

The subspecies Trimerodytes percarinatus suriki is endemic to Taiwan[3] where it occurs in the whole country.[4]

Description

T. percarinatus is a defensive snake that bites readily when caught, but it is not venomous.[4][5] It is a medium-sized snake, typically attaining a total length (including tail) of 70–90 cm (28–35 in), but may grow up to 110 cm (43 in).[5] An adult female usually lays 4 to 13 eggs,[1] but may lay as many as 25 eggs.[4]

Distribution and habitat

T. percarinatus is found in NE India (Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh), Myanmar (= Burma), Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, S China (Hainan, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Hubei), Hong Kong, and Taiwan.[1][3] It is an aquatic species associated with hilly areas.[1][5]

Diet

T. percarinatus preys on shrimps, frogs (including tadpoles), and fish.[4]

References

Li P; Lau MWN; Rao D-q & Jiang J (2012). "Sinonatrix percarinata ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T192158A2048534. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192158A2048534.en. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
Boulenger GA (1899). "On a Collection of Reptiles and Batrachians made by Mr. J. D. La Touche in N.W. Fokien, China". Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1899: 159-172. (Tropidonotus percarinatus, new species, pp. 163-164 + Plate XVII, figure 2).
Trimerodytes percarinatus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
Breuer, Hans; Murphy, William Christopher (2009–2010). "Sinonatrix percarinata suriki ". Snakes of Taiwan. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
"Sinonatrix percarinata percarinata (Boulenger, 1899)". Reptiles of Hong Kong. Ecological Restoration and Conservation Laboratory, HKU. 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.