HABITAT AND ECOLOGY This lowland snake inhabits forests, marshes and scrublands. The species can be found in both disturbed and undisturbed areas, including urban environments, rice paddy fields and other agricultural areas as well as rainforest. These snakes are most regularly encountered in disturbed areas, such as gardens adjacent to secondary forest. In Viet Nam the snake is cosmopolitan between 100 to 2,000 m asl., but appears to prefer forested mountain valleys, with rocky areas close to streams. Snakes spend most of their time underground and only emerges at night or during heavy rain in the wet season. It feeds primarily on amphibians, snakes, lizards, small mammals and ground dwelling birds (Orlov 2000).
There are no known species-specific conservation measures in place, although it is found in protected areas in Viet Nam and Myanmar, and presumably throughout its range. In Thailand the species is protected by law. Research into population trends is needed to clarify that the level at which this species is harvested is sustainable.
CLASS : Reptilia
ORDER : Squamata
FAMILY : Xenopeltidae
GENUS : Xenopeltis
SPECIES : Asian Sunbeam Snake (Xenopeltis unicolor)
Conservation status : Least Concern
Update : 06 April 2017
