Tentacled Snake - TheLiving Encyclopedia

The tentacled snake or tentacle snake is a rear-fanged aquatic snake native to Southeast Asia. It is the only species of the genus Erpeton. The two tentacles on its snout are a unique feature among snakes.

📌 Distribution

A native of Southeast Asia, the tentacled snake can be found in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The snake lives its entire life in the murky water of lakes, rice paddies, and slow moving streams, and can be found in fresh, brackish, and sea water. A prime example of its habitat is the Tonlé Sap lake in central Cambodia. The water there contains much silt and has a large fish population.

📌 Reproduction

The young develop ovoviviparously and are born live underwater.

📌 Behaviour

Tentacled snakes spend their whole life in the water and can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes without coming up for air. 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. The tentacled snake retracts its eyes when it begins to strike.

Quick Facts

Common Names:

Tentacled Snake, Fühlerschlange, Tentacle Snake, East Indian tentacled snake, Arowana snake

Class:

Reptilia

Data Completeness:

100%

Data Sources

🌍gbif

📚itis

📖wikipedia

🔬eol

🦎inaturalist

References

All references are verified for authenticity. We prioritize peer-reviewed studies, reputable databases (iNaturalist, GBIF), and established encyclopedias.

Distribution Statistics

10

Observations

7

Countries

Top Locations

Bangkok, Thailand

1

Thailand

1

Mỹ Phước, Mỹ Tú, Sóc Trăng, Việt Nam

1

Bang Bua Thong, Bang Bua Thong District, Nonthaburi 11110, Thailand

1

Thale Noi, Khuan Khanun District, Phatthalung, Thailand

1

Recent Observers

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First: 7/9/2018 · Latest: 12/3/2024