ZOO’s PRINT, Volume XXX, Number 2, February 2015 21 Red-necked keelback (Rhabdophis subminiatus) snake is found in the mixed evergreen forests and surrounding areas in the northeast and southeast Bangladesh (Hasan et al 2014). This species has distribution range of almost all other Asian countries. This snake survives on frogs, toads, lizards and small mammals (Whitaker, 2004). Previously it was thought to be non-venomous but recently it has been reclassified under venomous snakes. It is an infrequent case on seeing a snake taking its prey in the wild. During our field trip to Kaptai National Park (20 0 30´41.67” N and 92 0 11 ´18.46” E), Rangamati in January 2014, we had an opportunity to observe the snake eating the Indian balloon frog (Uperodon globulosus). Kaptai National Park is a tropical semi evergreen forest and located in the southeastern part of Bangladesh in Chittagong hilly tracts. This park is comprised of rocky trails and various fauna and flora. On 02 January 2014 at about 12 noon, when we were walking on hilly trails for our fieldwork, we unexpectedly saw a Red-necked Keelback just captured an Indian Balloon Frog at a junction of three waterlogged trails. On observation we noted the snake immobilized the frog by injecting its venom, killed and started to swallow from its head followed by front legs and body very gradually. It took more than 20 minutes to swallow. After that snake moved out of our sight. The body length of the snake was 68 cm. References Hasan, M.K., M.M.H. Khan and M.M. Feeroz (2014). Amphibians and Reptiles of Bangladesh- A Field Guide. Arannayk Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Pp 133 Whitaker, R. and A. Captain (2004). Snakes of India-The Field Guide. Draco Books, Tamil Nadu, India. Pp 232. Observation on the feeding behaviour of Red-necked keelback (Rhabdophis subminiatus), Kaptai National Park, Bangladesh Tahsinur Rahman Shihan 1* and Nasima Kabir 2 1* Junior Wildlife Researcher, Monitoring and Conservation of Wildlife in Kaptai National Park of Bangladesh Project. Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected] 2 Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected] Snake capturing the frog Snake locating the head after immobilization Photos by Tahsinur Rahman Shihan

Observation on the feeding behaviour of Red-necked ... · ZOO’s PRINT, Volume XXX, Number 2, February 2015 21 Red-necked keelback (Rhabdophis subminiatus) snake is found in the

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ZOO’s PRINT, Volume XXX, Number 2, February 2015 21

Red-necked keelback (Rhabdophis subminiatus) snake is found in the mixed evergreen forests and surrounding areas in the northeast and southeast Bangladesh (Hasan et al 2014). This species has distribution range of almost all other Asian countries. This snake survives on frogs, toads, lizards and small mammals (Whitaker, 2004). Previously it was thought to be non-venomous but recently it has been reclassified under venomous snakes. It is an infrequent case on seeing a snake taking its prey in the wild. During our field trip to Kaptai National Park (20030´41.67” N and 92011´18.46” E), Rangamati in January 2014, we had an opportunity to observe the snake eating the Indian balloon frog (Uperodon globulosus).

Kaptai National Park is a tropical semi evergreen forest and located in the southeastern part of Bangladesh in Chittagong hilly tracts. This park is comprised of rocky trails and various fauna and flora. On 02 January 2014 at about 12 noon, when we were walking on hilly trails for our fieldwork, we unexpectedly saw a Red-necked Keelback just captured an Indian Balloon Frog at a junction of three waterlogged trails. On observation we noted the snake immobilized the frog by injecting its venom, killed and started to swallow from

its head followed by front legs and body very gradually. It took more than 20 minutes to swallow. After that snake moved out of our sight. The body length of the snake was 68 cm.

ReferencesHasan, M.K., M.M.H. Khan and M.M. Feeroz (2014). Amphibians and Reptiles of Bangladesh- A Field Guide. Arannayk Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Pp 133

Whitaker, R. and A. Captain (2004). Snakes of India-The Field Guide. Draco Books, Tamil Nadu, India. Pp 232.

Observation on the feeding behaviour of Red-necked keelback (Rhabdophis subminiatus), Kaptai National Park, BangladeshTahsinur Rahman Shihan1* and Nasima Kabir2

1*Junior Wildlife Researcher, Monitoring and Conservation of Wildlife in Kaptai National Park of Bangladesh Project. Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected] of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]

Snake capturing the frog

Snake locating the head after immobilization

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