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Description |
Geographic Range [top]
Range Description: D. siamensis is found in Central Myanmar, central Thailand, eastern China (Guangxi, Guangdong and Fujian Provinces, and Taiwan) and Indonesia, where it has been recorded from Surabaya in east Java in the Greater Sundas, from Komodo, Flores Solor, Andonara and Lembata in the Lesser Sundas (Thorpe et al. 2007), and recently from east Sumbawa (McKay and Lilley in review). It has an apparently very marginal occurrence in Cambodia; Thorpe et al. (2007) sampled a specimen from Poi Pet, adjacent to the Thai border, but do not include Cambodia in their distribution map for this species.
Countries occurrence:
Native:
Cambodia; China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi); Indonesia; Myanmar; Taiwan, Province of China; Thailand
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
Population [top]
Population: This widespread species has been reported to be common in some areas. This snake is, however, subject to high levels of both exploitation and persecution in some areas, including its entire range within Myanmars central dry zone, and so is likely to be undergoing at least localized population declines (G. Wogan pers. comm. September 2011). No quantitative information is available on rates of any declines. In Indonesia, recent records of this species exist only for the islands of Komodo, Flores and Sumbawa; the snake is known from only a single historical record in Java (R.P.H. Lilley pers. comm. October 2011).
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Additional data:
?Population severely fragmented: Unknown
Habitat and Ecology [top]
Habitat and Ecology: This species is not restricted to any particular habitat, and while it is mostly found in open, grassy or bushy areas it may also occur in secondary forests (scrub jungles), forested plantations and farmland. It avoids dense forests and is most common in plains, coastal lowlands and hills. This species is often found in highly urbanized areas and settlements in the countryside, where it feeds on rodents commensal with humans. In Myanmar and Thailand it is commonly collected from paddy fields and other agricultural land. The species is terrestrial and active primarily as a nocturnal forager. However, during cool weather it can be found during the daytime. Adults are reported to be persistently slow and sluggish unless highly agitated, after which they become very aggressive. Juveniles are generally more active and will bite with minimal provocation. While the species feeds primarily on rodents, especially mice, shrews, squirrels, domestic cats, land crabs, scorpions and other arthropods may also be consumed. This species is ovoviviparous. Mating generally occurs early in the year, although gravid females may be found at any time. The gestation period is more than six months. Young are produced from May to November, but mostly in June and July. It is a prolific breeder. Litters of 20-40 neonates are common.
Systems: Terrestrial
Use and Trade [top]
Use and Trade: This snake is heavily collected throughout the central area of Myanmar for the international trade, probably for use in medicine in China, and is among the species that forms the bulk of the illegal snake trade from Myanmar (G. Wogan pers. comm. September 2011). In Thailand it is also collected for the skin trade. It is illegal to export snakes from both countries. It is likely that the snake is also subject to heavy exploitation in China, where collection for food and skins is considered a threat (Wang and Xie 2009, as Vipera russellii), although any declines resulting from this exploitation have not been quantified. Dead animals been recorded in markets in Java (M. Auliya pers. comm. December 2011). According to CITES data, between 2000 and 2009, 61,798 skins were exported from wild-collected specimens from Thailand (51,778), Indonesia (10,000) and Laos (20). The same source indicates that a smaller number of leather products reportedly from captive-bred animals are exported from Thailand.
Threats [top]
Major Threat(s): This snaks range in Myanmar coincides with a regionally extensive network of illegal collection and trade in snakes, within which there is a high demand for this species. Levels of exploitation are probably high enough to represent a major threat to this snake, at least nationally (G. Wogan pers. comm. September 2011). As this snake is also heavily persecuted throughout its range, animals which are not collected and sold are typically killed on sight (G. Wogan pers. comm. September 2011). Collection for international trade may also threaten the Thai subpopulation, and while this snake occurs over wide areas in both countries, its disjunct distribution puts national subpopulations at particular risk of local extirpation if harvesting levels are not sustainable. This snake is subject to both collection (for food and skins) and persecution in China (Wang and Xie 2009), but it is not clear whether the snake is under particular pressure in this country.
Conservation Actions [top]
Conservation Actions: This snake is found in a number of protected areas, including Minsontaung Wildlife Sanctuary and Popa Mountain National Park in Myanmar. It is not protected in any country within its range, and although export from Thailand and Myanmar is illegal, this has not prevented high levels of collection in these areas. The impact of exploitation on both the global population and national subpopulations needs to be further studied, with the snakes population status being of interest in both Myanmar and Indonesia, and research is needed to establish whether harvests are unsustainable.
Citation: Wogan, G. 2012. Daboia siamensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012: e.T201501A2707729. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T201501A2707729.en. Downloaded on 18 April 2016.
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