SNAKE

Snakes are the most diverse group of reptiles and amphibians on Bali. Species associated with the wetter habitats of south- east Asia comprise the majority, followed by species associated with the seasonally dry environments of eastern Indonesia and New Guinea. There are also wide—ranging coastal species such as the Bockadam (Cerberus rynchops) and Little File Snake (Acrochordusgrcmulutus). Two species are found only in seasonally dry open woodlands, which on Bali and Java are isolated remnants of the habitat type that dominated the early part of their history 1 to 3 million years ago. These are the Burmese Python (Python molurus) and the Indo-Chinese Sand Snake (Psammophiscondonarus). Sea snakes and sea kraits are the most poorly known of the fauna. No records exist specifically for Bali other than the Yellow- lipped Sea Krait (Laticauducolubrina). The species in the Appendix are recorded mostly from the literature and comprise species which are found throughout the southeast Asian region, species occuring in central Indonesia, and species recorded from northeast Java. The sea north of Bali is up to twice as deep as the sea northeast of Java, and it may support entirely different sea snake species. The group presented here are diverse in their preferred habitats and prey. The Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (Pelamisplaturus) feeds on the surface and may travel widely in open seas. Some species inhabiting coral reefs have small heads for capturing gobies and eels in burrrows and holes, such as the Narrow-headed Sea Snake (Hydrophisgracilis). The Beaded Sea Snake (Aipysuruseydouxii) feeds entirely on fish eggs. The Beaked Sea Snake (Enhydrinaschistosa) prefers muddy estuarine waters, where it on gobies and catfish.