Recently, a video has been circulating on social media featuring a creature covered in a layer of green moss-like ‘fur’ gracefully swimming in the water. Many comments expressed surprise and questioned what this creature could be.
People believe this is a snakehead fish.
Many comments suggest that this is a snakehead fish (a mythical creature in Eastern legends). So, what exactly is the identity of the creature in the short video below?
What is this mysterious creature?
This video was posted on the page งูไทยรู้จักไว้ ไม่เสียหาย, a community page in Thailand with over 38,000 followers, aimed at spreading knowledge about snake species in the country. According to the Admin who uploaded the video, this is a non-venomous snake.
Specifically, in the comments below the video, the Admin stated that this is a Homalopsis mereljcoxi, a species of water snake commonly found in rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, swamps, and rice fields…
The “fur” covering the outside is actually just algae sticking to it. The reason this snake can be identified despite its entire body being covered is due to the distinct pattern on its snout characteristic of the Homalopsis mereljcoxi (see image below).
The distinctive features on the snout help identify this species of snake.
The Homalopsis mereljcoxi is a large, robust snake, nearly 1 meter long and weighing about 600 grams, with numerous circular bands from head to tail. The characteristic feature of this snake is its snout, which has a pattern of black dots resembling an arrowhead, and its belly has black spots that look like moles.
This species is primarily distributed in the waterways of southern Vietnam and is harmless to humans as it is non-venomous. Moreover, the meat of this snake is considered very delicious, making it a target for hunting. They primarily feed on frogs, fish, and toads and are nocturnal.
They live semi-aquatically, so it is not surprising to see a snake covered in algae. Female snakes give birth to between 2 to 20 offspring per litter. The newborns are approximately 23 cm long at birth.
