Common sunbeam snake, Iridescent snake
Xenopeltis unicolor is a non-venomous sunbeam snake species found in Southeast Asia and some regions of Indonesia. This is a primitive snake known for both its highly iridescent scales and its ability to reproduce quickly, as it is oviparous and as such can lay up to 10 eggs at a time. No subspecies are currently recognized.
The Sunbeam snake is a non-venomous snake known for its highly iridescent scales and ability to reproduce quickly. Its head is wedge-shaped and narrow with little neck delineation, which makes it easy to push through the soil. Its most defining characteristic is its iridescent, highly polished scales that give this snake its common name. They have a layer of dark pigmentation just below the surface on each scale that enhances the iridescence. Young snakes look very similar to adults, except that they have a strong white "collar" of scales evident just below the head. This coloration fades within the first year. Sunbeam snakes also have two cone opsins allowing for the potential of dichromatic color vision.
Sunbeam snakes are found in Southeast Asia and some regions of Indonesia. They prefer to live in open areas such as forest clearings, shrubland, marshes, gardens, and parks and often frequent rice paddies.
These are fossorial snakes that spend most of their time below ground. They are solitary and come out only to feed. They hunt by day killing their prey by suffocation in their muscular coils. Sunbeam snakes may bite readily if handled roughly, but mostly just try to escape if picked up. They also vibrate their tails in a rattlesnake-like fashion when they feel threatened.
Sunbeam snakes are carnivores. Their diet consists primarily of frogs, reptiles, including other snakes, and small mammals.
Sunbeam snakes are oviparous and lay up to 10 eggs at a time. The young hatch fully developed and are able to take care of themselves.
This species doesn’t face any major threats; however, it is collected from the wild for the skin trade and sold as pets.
According to IUCN Red List, the Sunbeam snake is common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable.
