The Acrochordidae is a taxonomical subfamily of snakes, which include the genus Acrochordus, with three species world wide. Two of these species are found in Southeast Asia; the wart (Acrochordus granulatus), and the elephant trunk snake (Acrochordus javanicus). They both can be identified for their thick and heavy bodies. This subfamily is included within the larger family Colubridae.
Physical Characteristics
The Acrochordidae snakes have their eyes located on top of their head and valvular nostrils. Their bodies have loose folded skin, with rough granular scales and bristle-tipped tubercles. They also have a skin flap for closing the lingual (tongue) opening of the mouth. All these physical traits are evolutionary adaptation for an aquatic environment.
They inhabit fresh waters, river and lakes, and sea coasts. They are nocturnal creatures who hide away beneath fallen logs and other underwater debris. They feed on crabs, fish, and smaller snakes. They are either harvested for their durable and valuable skin and caught by fishermen for the flesh as they are eaten by local population.
Below, a member of the Acrochordidae family, the wart snake.
