FieldHerpForum

It's been a few months since I found this species for the first time, and I've run into quite a lot of these since, but these photos from my first few encounters are still the nicest I have (which isn't saying much).

Lycodon ruhstrati ruhstrati, aka Formosa Wolf Snake, aka White Plum Blossom Snake (in Chinese), is a very common nocturnal reptile here on the island. They're very slender, smallish snakes (just over three feet) and often tragically mistaken for Multibanded Kraits (Bungarus multicinctus). The genus name Lycodon - Wolf Tooth - hints at their front teeth, which are much larger than the ones in the rear, and which they use to catch fast lizards....and any extremities you might foolishly extend their way: even the babies can punch nice, large holes into human flesh

The background with the epiphytic plants is a wall, btw, and that's where I mostly find them - crawling out of their sleeping holes, up the walls on their way to breakfast.

I like it! Nice variety of shots.

With the exception of its head, that looks just like the Sibon annulata I find in Belize...

yeah, very Sibon-like. Neat snake - I prefer the Chinese name.

-Mike

Looks like someone crossed a gray rat snake with a gray banded kingsnake.

Very cool wolf snake!

I really like this piecemeal style of posting you have. It makes me appreciate the animals more than quite a few at once. Here in the states I'm used to seeing so many different species and being familiar so large posts work in that way. You have your own style and you really OWN it. Keep doing what you do, I'm a fan.


Justin

Thanks much for your appreciation, Justin, I sure appreciate it! I've only got 40-odd species to work with, so I need to post them wisely. To much stuff in one post can also tire out the reader by half-post, thus wasting the lower half.....

(Of course, there are those who ask "do you always find just ONE snake a day?" )

They are nice snakes, Hans. I love the Chinese names ... much more colourful than most of ours.

Regards,
David