| 1 | Chinese cobra |
Chinese cobras (Naja atra) are the most common cobra in southern China, and Hong Kong has a bucketload of them. They measure 1.2-1.5 metres and after the harmless oriental ratsnake (2415), they’re the second most likely snake to invade human habitation. 1649 wormed their way into Hong Kong dwellings, according to a study covering January 2002 to December 2016. No matter how secure your hotel bed in Hong Kong, you could still wake up to a curious Chinese cobra staring at you.
A Chinese cobra bite mainly causes necrosis, destroying skin tissue and possibly requiring a skin graft. They also possess the ability to spit venom, despite not being a true spitting cobra. They lack the normal pressurised holes on the front of their fang tips, and have to angle their fangs upwards awkwardly, via a perfectly executed jump. Luckily, Chinese cobras kill few people. A study analysed 242 snakebites in Hong Kong hospitals from 1984-1988, and found just three deaths. One was from the Chinese cobra, another from the Russell’s viper and another from the white-lipped pitviper.
Chinese cobras possess neurotoxins, capable of causing breathing difficulties, slurred speech and twitching muscles, but these only manifest in a small minority of victims. In Taiwan, they were experienced by 15% of people (4/27), and by 20% in a Hong Kong study (3/15).
| 2 | Red-necked keelback |
This snake features both venom and poison. Red-necked keelbacks have a bite which can unleash clotting impairment, haemorrhaging, and kidney damage. They can also swallow poisonous Bufo toads, and sequester their deadly bufotoxins in nuchal glands in their neck, which they later burst in people’s faces. Hong Kong is a real hotspot for this snake, and they’re constantly observed around the island. They’re particularly common on Hong Kong’s jogging trails, sticking close to the water sources, which could be a lake, or as small as a puddle. Red-necked keelbacks can also appear in water culverts in more urbanised areas. With the signature red neck, there’s no snake they truly resemble in Hong Kong.
A threatened red-necked keelback will burst a bufotoxin cloud directly from their neck, aiming for the predator’s (human’s) face. The stored toxins can also be activated by touch, an application of pressure. According to the 2002-2016 study, red-necked keelbacks invaded Hong Kong households 701 times. But despite these worrying facts, red-necked keelbacks contribute virtually nothing to Hong Kong’s annual snakebite statistics.
Be careful though, as weird ones can appear. There’s occasionally melanistic versions, where melanin pigments go into overdrive, resulting in total blackness that overrides their usual bright colour palette. This one was observed in Hong Kong specifically.
| 3 | MacClelland’s coral snake |
A little researched forest snake which you should stay well back from. Nobody should approach MacClelland’s coral snake to closer than 1 metre, and the smartest option is to walk right past, with just a quick glance at the serpent that could effortlessly kill you. Very few bites are on record for this snake, but several involved death. MacClelland’s coral snake (Sinomicrurus macclellandi) is part of a small, 9-member family, and also lives in Thailand and Vietnam. Bites on record were mainly neurotoxic in nature, initially involving numb lips, difficulty breathing, difficulty speaking and blurred vision.
MacClelland’s coral snake are found throughout Hong Kong, but encountered relatively rarely. Their preferred habitats are forests with an abundance of fallen leaves to hide in, occasionally venturing into grassland directly next door. They’re also spotted crossing roads near forests. This snake only invaded Hong Kong households three times from 2002 to 2016. In addition, they’re relative docile and relaxed, despite their brutal venom.
A weird curiosity of Sinomicrurus macclellandi is that they become extremely alert in the presence of the white-spotted slug snake, a harmless Hong Kong snake.
| 4 | Many-banded krait |
Bungarus kraits are a large venomous family in southeast Asia (16 members) and the many-banded krait is the most common of Hong Kong. By raw potency, its venom is among the deadliest land snakes (LD50 0.07mg), although the venom yield is very low at just 7mg per bite. This species mainly appears in forests and marshes, almost never invading households.
Many-banded kraits are slow and patient, rarely attacking humans for the sake of it. But picking one up is most unwise, as Bungarus multicinctus has a freakishly flexible neck which allows them to bend nightmarishly and bite your hand. The bite site is rarely painful, with a moderate itching at most. The symptoms are delayed, and arrive 1-4 hours post bite. They’re strongly neurotoxic in nature, including dilated pupils and breathing woes. The main toxin called is beta-bungarotoxins, representing 50% of the total, followed by alpha-bungarotoxins and a trace of K-bungarotoxins (0.1%).
Beware of any black and white banded snakes in the territory of Hong Kong. However, there’s also harmless mimics, such as the Futsing wolf snake, which has extremely similar patterns. The key is a larger white patch on the head.
| 5 | White-lipped pitviper |
The most common venomous snake in Hong Kong, and the chief architect of bites. White-lipped pitvipers live virtually anywhere except dense forests and concrete jungles. They love low shrub branches and can appear in gardens, parks, villages, wooded hillsides and jogger’s trails alike. Their venom has few neurotoxins, but causes a catastrophic swathe of necrosis, physically dissolving skin tissue bonds with an elixir of metalloproteinases. White-lipped pitvipers inhabit every region of Hong Kong.
The most overwhelming statistic came from 2009, where Trimeresurus albolabris made up 95% of venomous bites in Hong Kong, of 139 in total. A study from 1982-1986 found 242 snakebites in Hong Kong, and “the White-lipped pit viper (Trimeresurus albolabris) was by far the commonest species involved“. Fortunately, they only caused one death. Another study examined snakebite in children in rural Hong Kong. Over 10 years, just 7 children were bitten, but most bites came from the white-lipped pitviper.
The home invasion survey found that Trimeresurus albolabris invaded households 1164 times from 2002-2016. Though ranking in third, this was well behind the Chinese cobra (1649), yet the white-lipped pitviper dwarfs them in bite totals. White-lipped pitvipers also appear in catchwaters, where they prowl for baby geckos.
| 6 | Common mock viper |
This species survives by mimicking dangerously venomous vipers. There’s the vertical pupils, murky grey patterns, and a head which can flatten and become more triangular. They also assume the classic S-shaped strike pose.
However, common mock vipers (Psammodynastes pulverulentus) have a venom of their own, albeit a mild one. There are no cases of serious reactions in humans, let alone death. Common mock vipers tend to be feisty and snap when first confronted, but calm down over time.
This is an active snake which confidently explores the forests of Hong Kong, only occasionally hiding under cover. Rather than sluggish, Psammodynastes pulverulentus moves energetically and reacts quickly to stimuli like a pair of steel snake tongs. They’re particularly abundant in Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve in central Hong Kong, and appear in urban streets only rarely. From 2002 to 2016, they were caught in Hong Kong households just 38 times. Psammodynastes pulverulentus measures 50-70cm, and has a reddish tint to its eye when viewed up close.
| 7 | Banded krait |
Another Bungarus member and another severely deadly one. Bungarus fasciatus is far less common in Hong Kong than the many-banded krait. They’re slightly less dangerous, but a banded krait bite is potentially life threatening and requires immediate hospitalisation. Banded krait venom contains both post and pre synaptic neurotoxics, a perfect elixir for lung failure and paralysis.
Bungarus fasciatus averages at 105-135cm with a maximum of 225.5cm. This is mainly a calm snake, investigating the forest floor for its main prey, fellow snakes. But when confronted, they’ll fly into a frenzy. The banded krait shakes its head from side to side, makes sharp stabbing lunges, and acts extremely erratically. They’ll sometimes coil up tightly and wave their tail around as a distraction. This tail is rounded, and resembles a small head, luring predators away. Jogging tails are a place to find Bungarus fasciatus, but as they’re nocturnal, and rarely invade houses, encounters are far less common than white-lipped pitvipers.
Bungarus fasciatus is easy to distinguish from the many-banded krait, as its pale sections are yellow instead of white. It’s also slightly thicker, and has a keeled spine which makes it look triangular.
| 8 | Chinese watersnake |
This 30-50cm species is found in water bodies across southern China, in Taiwan, and in Hong Kong, where they’re plentiful in certain spots. Myrrophis chinensis is comfortable in manmade water bodies such as fish ponds and rice paddies. They also appear in natural water bodies like lakes and slow moving rivers. Chinese water snakes have a twitchy temperament. They’ll produce a foul snake smell to defend themselves, and they bite readily.
Though no deaths have occurred, they have a mild venom, which causes pain and moderate swelling at the bite site. No detailed analysis of the venom has ever been conducted, so there may be mysteries yet to discover in this Hong Kong snake. Myrrophis chinensis is also capable of leaping strikes.
Myrrophis chinensis isn’t found in every region of Hong Kong. It’s believed to be missing from Hong Kong Island, and is mainly found in the north and west. But where it does exist, it dwells in large numbers. Despite their watery ways, Chinese watersnakes were recorded invading human habitation 18 times from 2002 to 2016. They aren’t completely restricted to water, and will sometimes appear in urban zones.
| 9 | Tonkin pitviper |
This venomous snake is a particular lover of rock crevices. Ovophis tonkinensis is not only rare in Hong Kong, but hard to find due to its shadowy habits. They never appear in urban areas, preferring to rest on rocks in moist forests, usually close to a water source. This species is most commonly spotted during colder months.
Ovophis tonkinensis has no presence in Hong Hong’s annual snakebite statistics. Its known that their venom is mainly procoagulant, rapidly overusing clotting agents such as fibrin and prothrombin so that virtually none is left, and minor cuts and bites readily bleed. Tonkin pitvipers have an unpredictable temperament. They may attempt to flee, but they may also stand their ground, and jab at the air with successive rapid strikes.
Ovophis tonkinensis measures 30-50cm, and could never be confused with a Chinese cobra or many-banded krait. They have distinctive orange scales overlaid with messy black blotches, with whiter patches on their face. They have grey eyes with a sharply vertical pupil, and as the video above shows, they slither slowly and patiently. This is a confident viper which is in no frantic dash to secure its prey. Being shy, images are rare, so see here for footage.
| 10 | Many-spotted catsnake |
One of Hong Kong’s most strictly nocturnal snakes. Many-spotted catsnakes cling to tree branches for hours at a time and measure 50-70cm. They’re an abundant species in Hong Kong, inhabiting every region, including Lantau Island and Hong Kong Island. Despite loving trees, they avoid the densest forests and stick to moderate woodland and tree clumps near grassland and shrubland.
Boiga multomaculata secretes a rear-fanged venom which must be chewed in repeatedly to enter the bloodstream. While assumed to be weak, analysis of a couple of Boiga catsnakes has revealed surprisingly strong venom recently. These include the gold-ringed catsnake and black headed catsnake, so it’s possible that many-spotted catsnakes also have tricks up their sleeves. Either way, this Hong Kong snake has never caused a recorded human death.
Many-spotted catsnakes are found in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Hong Kong lies in the easternmost extent of their territory, yet may have the most sightings of all, like one final stronhold before the uninhabitable badlands of rival snakes kick in. They’ve been spotted in the Education University of Hong Kong, but will never be found slithering down a bustling street. Many-spotted catsnakes invaded Hong Kong households 132 times from 2002 to 2016, according to the same study from earlier.