Sinomicrurus macclellandi

Description

S. macclellandi is a small snake, about 40–80 centimetres (16–31 in) in total length (including tail), and has a thin body. Dorsally, it is reddish-brown, with thin, black cross bars, and its belly is creamy white. The head is small, round and black in color, with a broad, creamy white transverse band, and black outlines at the middle of the head. The dorsal scales on the body are smooth, and they are arranged, at midbody, in 13 parallel longitudinal rows.

Geographic range

S. macclellandi is found in northern and northeastern India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, northern Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, central and southern China (including Hong Kong, Hainan, north to Gansu and Shaanxi), Taiwan, and Ryukyu Islands (Japan). It is also found in Laos.

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized, including the nominate subspecies:

• Sinomicrurus macclellandi macclellandi (J.T. Reinhardt, 1844)
• Sinomicrurus macclellandi nigriventer (Wall, 1908) – India (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand)
• Sinomicrurus macclellandi univirgatus (Günther, 1858) – Nepal, India (Sikkim

Behavior and habitat

S. macclellandi is mainly nocturnal and terrestrial. It occurs in forest litter, hillside, and lowland. It is often found hiding under leaves. Although this is a venomous species, it is quite docile and not likely to strike actively.

Diet

S. macclellandi preys on small reptiles, such as lizards and snakes.

Venom

Like other elapids, S. macclellandi possesses a potent neurotoxic venom, which is capable of killing a person. Bite symptoms include numbness of lips and difficulty of speech and breathing, followed by blurred vision. Severe bite victims may die of instant heart failure, although there have been only a few human deaths recorded in Thailand.

Reproduction

S. macclellandi is an oviparous species. Mature females lay clutches of 6–14 eggs.