A study on the collection of snakes from Taman Negara, Malaysia

Lim, Boo Liat and Ratnam, Louis and Anan, Saharudin (1990) A study on the collection of snakes from Taman Negara, Malaysia. [Journal / Magazine]

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Abstract

This paper reports on a collection of snakes that was carried out in Taman Negara between 1957 and 1973. This collection of 205 specimens comprised 67 species from 40 genera representing seven families of land and freshwater snakes. This collection was from four areas of the Tembeling valley, with Kuala Tahan as a general centre. Twelve of the species were uncommon or rare. Five of these Typhlops lineatus, Pareas malaccanus, Xenoderumus javanicus, Dryocalamus subannulatus and Amphiesma sanguinea constitute new locality records for Taman Negara. The collection was examined and 52.7% had stomach contents. Terrestrial prey formed the major part of these stomach contents. The Colubridae, Boidae and Viperidae fed mainly on small mammals and the Elapidae, Aniliidae. Typlophldae and xenopeltldae on reptiles, mainly snakes. One Interesting find was fish scales in the stomach of a banded kraft. Ecto-and endo-parasites were also collected. Of 51 individuals examined, 35.3 % had ectoparasites comprising four tick species. Of the 166 individuals 59.6% had endoparasites comprising five nematode species, two cestode species, three dentastomid species and one each of trematode and acanthocephala species. The significance of the host-parasite relationship was described in detail. Some parasites were highly host specific while others were broad spectrum in respect of host species. This was discussed and related to the behaviour and the food habits of the snake species concerned. The significance of food and parasites as ecological labels for the various species of snake was also touched upon.

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