| Xenopeltis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sunbeam snake (X. unicolor) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Xenopeltidae Bonaparte, 1845 |
| Genus: | Xenopeltis Reinwardt, 1827 |
| Synonyms | |
Family:
Genus: | |
Xenopeltis, thesunbeam snakes,[2] are the sole genus of themonotypic familyXenopeltidae, the species of which are found inSoutheast Asia. Sunbeam snakes are known for their highly iridescent scales. Threespecies are recognized, each one with nosubspecies.[3] Studies of DNA suggest that the xenopeltids are most closely related to the Mexican burrowing python (Loxocemus bicolor) and to the true pythons (Pythonidae).[4][5]
Adults can grow up to 1.3 m (51 in) in length.[6] The head scales are made up of large plates much like those of theColubridae, while theventral scales are only slightly reduced. Pelvic vestiges are not present.[7]
The dorsal color pattern is a reddish-brown, brown, or blackish color. The belly is an unpatterned whitish-gray.[8] The scales are highly iridescent.[7]
They are found inSoutheast Asia from theAndaman andNicobar Islands, east throughMyanmar to southernChina,Thailand,Laos,Cambodia,Vietnam, theMalay Peninsula and theEast Indies toSulawesi, as well as thePhilippines.[1]
These snakes are fossorial, spending much of their time hidden. They emerge at dusk to actively forage for frogs, other snakes, and small mammals. They are not venomous, and kill their prey with constriction.[8]
| Species[3] | Taxon author[3] | Common name | Geographic range[1] |
|---|---|---|---|
| X. hainanensis | Hu &Zhao, 1972 | China: fromZhejiang west toGuangxi and south toHainan Island | |
| X. intermedius | Orlov, Snetkov., Ermakov, Nguyen, & Ananjeva, 2022 | Vietnam | |
| X. unicolorT | Reinwardt, 1827 | common sunbeam snake[9] | Myanmar (Tenasserim), theAndaman andNicobar Islands, southern China (Guangdong andYunnan),Thailand,Laos,Cambodia,Vietnam,West Malaysia,Penang Island,Singapore Island andEast Malaysia (Sarawak); inIndonesia, it is found on the islands of theRiau Archipelago,Bangka,Belitung,Sumatra, We, Simalur,Nias, theMentawai Islands (Siberut),Borneo,Java, andSulawesi; in thePhilippines, it is found on the islands ofBalabac,Bongao,Jolo andPalawan |
These snakes are not very commonly kept as pets because of their high mortality rate in captivity. Shipping and the first six months in captivity are very stressful and often kill captive snakes. They also have very little tolerance of handling, with the resulting stress leading to premature death. Captive specimens should be provided with a temperature gradient and an easy to burrow substrate. The cage should be kept warm, but not hot, and they should be left alone.
