Siebold's water snake (Ferania sieboldii), also known commonly as Siebold's mud snake and Siebold's smooth water snake, is a species of mildly venomous, rear-fanged snake in the family Homalopsidae. The species is endemic to Asia.

Etymology

Both the specific name, sieboldii, and the common name, Siebold's water snake, are in honor of Philipp Franz von Siebold, a German botanist and physician.

Geographic range

F. sieboldii is found in Bangladesh, northcentral India, and western Malaysia.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of F. sieboldii is freshwater wetlands.

Description

F. sieboldii has a dorsal pattern of large blotches similar to those of a python, but it is distinctive in having its nostrils on the top of the snout to aid its aquatic lifestyle. It also lacks labial pits. It may attain a total length (including tail) of 89 cm. A female of that length had a tail which was 11 cm long.

Reproduction

F. sieboldii is viviparous.