The Formosa kukri snake is also known as Taiwan kukri snake or beautiful kukri snake.
In spite of its name, the natural range of this species is not limited to Taiwan but also Vietnam, Japan (Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa, Miyako, and Yaeyama), China including Hong Kong, and Hainan.
It is a small snake growing to usually 60 – 70 cm and rarely over 90 cm.
It is one of the 81 species of kukri snakes.
Kukri snakes are ovivores (egg-eaters) from Asia. They were named after the kukri knife, which is similar in shape to their curved, broad, flattened, enlarged rear teeth. With that said, they are not venomous and usually not aggressive. They got such strong teeth because of their ovivorous (egg-eating) diet. The teeth only help these small snakes cut open eggshells for easier digestion.
See more of my encounters with Hong Kong Wildlife.
台灣秤杆蛇
