Rhabdophis rhodomelas, the blueneck keelback or blue-necked keelback, is a species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. It is found in the Malay Peninsula (southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore), Borneo (Sarawak and Sabah, Malaysia; Kalimantan, Indonesia), and in the western parts of the Indonesian Archipelago (Sumatra, Java, Bangka Island).[1][2]

Rhabdophis rhodomelas
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Rhabdophis
Species:
R. rhodomelas
Binomial name
Rhabdophis rhodomelas
(H. Boie, 1827)
Synonyms[2]
  • Tropidonotus rhodomelas H. Boie in F. Boie, 1827
  • Amphiesma rhodomelas
  • Xenodon rhodomelas
  • Tropidonotus mortoni Theobald, 1868
  • Macropisthodon rhodomelus
  • Macropisthodon rhodomelas

Rhabdophis rhodomelas is an uncommon species known from lowland forest near riparian areas at elevations less than 200 m (660 ft) above sea level.[1] It is oviparous,[2] with fecundity up to 27 eggs.[1]

In the popular book, Fascinating Snakes of South East Asia - An Introduction. By Francis Lim Leong Keng & Monty Lee Tat-Mong. 1989 ISBN 967-73-0045-8. Page 61 There is a photo and short description of this snake. It states that " When disturbed, the Blue-Necked Keelback will rear up and flatten its neck like the Cobra. A whitish discharge, secreted by glands under the skin, oozes onto the blue patch of the neck-the purpose of this phenomenon is still a mystery." After much research we cannot find any further reference to this phenomenon.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d Grismer, L.; Inger, R.F.; Chan-Ard, T. (2012). "Rhabdophis rhodomelas". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T192056A2034080. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192056A2034080.en. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Rhabdophis rhodomelas at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 November 2022.