Chinese Water Snakes are olive green to dark brown with black markings on top, white bellies and a pink or peach coloured stripe running down the lower sides. They have a rounded head with strong jaws helpful for hunting fish.
For more information on this and all other land snakes of Hong Kong do see our sister site www.hongkongsnakeid.com
and make sure to pick up a copy of the guide: THE FIELD GUIDE TO THE SNAKES OF HONG KONG of which I am the co-producer.
Though technically venomous, reactions are rare in humans and usually consist of minor localised swelling and in more extreme cases mild nausea or dizziness.
Mostly nocturnal Chinese Water Snakes come out at night to hunt fish and occasionally amphibians.
Here a pair - with the smaller male on top - have a cuddle.
