Psammodynastes pulverulentus

Kingdom:    Animalia
Phylum:    Chordata
Class:    Reptilia
Order:     Squamata
Family:     Lamprophiidae
Genus:    Psammodynastes
Common Name:    common mock viper
Ecological Status:    Philippine Endemic

About the Species:

Psammodynastes pulverulentus or the Common Mock Viper is a species of snake with triangular head clearly distinct from its neck. The shape of its head is often confused with pit vipers. Its venom is much less powerful and less harmful to humans than that of true vipers. The teeth are adapted to feeding on heavy-scaled vertebrates like skinks and other snakes. It also displays a very broad coloration range; some individuals are dark chocolate-colored while some are reddish-brown, gray, yellow, or almost black. Some have hardly any head or body patterns, while others specimens show small spots or stripes (Breuer & Murphy, 2009-2010).  This is endemic in Asia particularly in Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, Hongkong, Bhutan, Indonesisa, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, , Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. In MHRWS, this species is  usually found in the ground.

Reference;

            Breuer, H. & Murphy, W.C. (2009–2010). "Psammodynastes pulverulentus". Snakes of                               Taiwan. Retrieved May 18, 2018.