by “Dragon Snake”It’s like a dragon and One of the rarest snake species in the world
The Dragon Snake is a unique species of snake that is very rarely seen in captivity. The species was first described in 1836 by a Danish zoologist named Johannes T. Reinhardt. Xenodermus javanicus, or the dragon snake, is a small and unique species of Colubrid snake renowned for its unusual but fascinating appearance.
As their name suggests, the Dragon Snake belongs to the Xenodermus genus. This is a monotypic genus, meaning that it consists of a single species. The family of snake that this species belongs to is called Xenodermidae. This is a family of snake that consists of 5 genera. None of these snakes are commonly kept as pets. Some of the species that belong to this family include the Odd-Scaled Snakes and the Borneo Red Snake. The Dragon Snake is a relatively small species, growing to a maximum length of around 2ft. They are generally grey in colour with a white belly. They have a slender body with a very long tail. The head is also very distinct and they have large black eyes. The most distinct feature of these snakes is the scales on their back. They have 3 rows of large keeled scales that run the length of their back. This is similar to the typical depiction of a dragons back, hence their name.
While dragon snakes are very reclusive by nature, they are incredible to observe when they come out during the night to ʜᴜɴᴛ and explore. Sᴇxɪɴɢ dragon snakes is relatively simple if you know what to look for. You do not want to pop or probe these snakes as they are very thin and fragile, and the risk of ʜᴜʀᴛ- ɪɴɢ them is too great. Instead, tail sᴇxɪɴɢ is a much easier and less ɪɴᴠᴀsɪᴠᴇ method of sᴇxɪɴɢ your snake. Females can be distinguished from males as they are heavier-bodied, have a more slender tail, and lack a hemipenial bulge. Males on the other hand are more slim-bodied, have a thicker tail and a distinct hemipenial bulge. While a small handful of people have been successful in keeping dragon snakes, this species is best suited for advanced keepers until established captive-bred specimens are more readily available. Dragons snakes require consistently high humidity at all times and often spend a majority of their time underground. In order to satisfy their semi-fossorial (burrowing) nature and maintain humidity levels of 90%+. Feeding dragon snakes is very straightforward as long as they have settled in well. In the wild, their diet primarily consists of tadpoles, frogs and small fish.
A Dragon Snake is not a species that you should consider if you want a snake that you can take out and handle all the time. This snake can get easily sᴛʀᴇssᴇᴅ and will often refuse to eat after excessive handling. This is a species that is best left to experienced keepers due to their very specific care requirements, difficult diet and shy nature. While stunning, they don’t even make a good display animal as they will spend most of the day hiding.
