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Description |
Assessment Information [top]
Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published: 2010
Date Assessed: 2009-02-15
Assessor(s): Murphy, J., Brooks, S.E. & Zug, G.R.
Reviewer(s): Livingstone, S.R., Elfes, C.T., Polidoro, B.A. & Carpenter, K.E. (Global Marine Species Assessment Coordinating Team)
Justification:
This species is listed as Least Concern in view of its broad distribution across Southeast Asia and its tolerance of human altered environments. This species is traded nationally and internationally, though this exploitation only impacts local populations and is not causing significant declines in the total global population. However, when this species complex becomes divided into separate species, it is probable that the smaller range segregate species may be considered to be more threatened through the collection for skins.
Geographic Range [top]
Range Description: This species occurs from Bangladesh through Myanmar, Thailand, and the Indochinese-Malaysian Peninsula southwards into the Indonesian islands and eastwards to at least Sulawesi (Murphy 2007).
Countries occurrence:
Native:
Bangladesh; Cambodia; Indonesia (Jawa, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Sumatera); Malaysia; Myanmar; Thailand; Viet Nam
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
Population [top]
Population: This species is described as common (Murphy 2007). The population was estimated to number 96,000 individuals in Indonesia (Lilley 1993).
Current Population Trend: Unknown
Additional data:
?Population severely fragmented: No
Habitat and Ecology [top]
Habitat and Ecology: This is a freshwater species that is found in a broad range of aquatic habitats including gravel streams, stream impoundments, drainage ditches, irrigated fields, ponds, swamps, and marshes (Murphy 2007). It appears to be tolerant of human disturbance as it has been reported from the banks of rivers, streams and ditches in suburban areas.
This species is nocturnal and can be found in muddy bank holes or burrows during the day. It feeds primarily on fish but may also eat anurans and possibly crustaceans (Murphy 2007).
Systems: Terrestrial; Freshwater
Use and Trade [top]
Use and Trade: See details of use under threats.
Threats [top]
Major Threat(s): This species is heavily exploited in Tonlé Sap Lake in Cambodia, and populations appear to be declining in this particular area. This species makes up about 8% of the snake harvest from this area (Brooks et al. 2007). It is heavily exploited in Cambodia for international export to Thailand, Viet Nam and China (Stuart et al. 2000, Stuart 2004). This species is traded internationally, to the Vietnamese and Chinese markets as food and to Thai markets for their skins. It was estimated that, in 1999, upwards of 8,500 water snakes of various species were harvested and sold per day during the peak season. Stuart et al. (2000) note that the harvesting of various snakes in Cambodia likely represents the greatest exploitation of a single snake assemblage anywhere in the world.
This species is also exploited elsewhere within its range (J. Murphy pers. comm. 2009) as it is valued for human consumption, as feed for crocodile farms, and for the skin trade.
It is the third most abundant reptile in trade around U Mnh Thuong National Park (Stuart 2004). It can commonly be found in trade shops and is often entangled and killed in large nets that block canals in the area. Zhou and Jiang (2004) have reported that, between 1991 and 2001 alone, 1,448,134 skins of this species were imported into China for the leather trade. It was the third most common reptile skin imported into the United States during 1984-1990, with a total import of 1,645,448 skins (Baker 2006).
Conservation Actions [top]
Conservation Actions: There are no known conservation measures in place for this species, although it is known to occur in several protected areas including the U Mnh Thuong National Park. Further research is required to resolve the taxonomy of this group. In addition, further research into its abundance, trends and harvest levels is needed to ensure a threat status is not triggered in the future. This species can be bred in captivity (CITES 2001).
Citation: Murphy, J., Brooks, S.E. & Zug, G.R. 2010. Homalopsis buccata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010: e.T176682A7283049. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T176682A7283049.en. Downloaded on 15 June 2016.
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