The plumbeous water snake

A plumbeous water snake spotted in Bijia Hill Park in Futian District. Photos by Isaac Cohen

The plumbeous water snake

If you spend much time around Shenzhen’s lakes and ponds, you may encounter a curious snake with an olive-greenish coloration, white throat, yellow belly, and reddish eyes. The plumbeous water snake (Hypsiscopus plumbea) is venomous; however, it is harmless to humans and plays a vital role in Shenzhen’s ecosystem by controlling frog populations and dispersing fish eggs.

如果你经常在深圳的湖泊和池塘周围活动，可能会遇到一种奇特的蛇，体色为橄榄绿色，喉部白色，腹部黄色，眼睛红色。这种蛇被称作铅色水蛇，是一种有毒的蛇种，不过对人类来说并没有危害。相反，它能控制青蛙数量，传播鱼卵，因此在深圳的生态系统中发挥着重要作用。

The plumbeous water snake averages around 50 centimeters long and possesses a short, stocky body. Its name comes from its olive-brown to lead-grey coloration, which helps it blend into the rocky edges and muddy banks where it likes to sun itself.

铅色水蛇的平均体长约为50厘米，身体短而粗壮。它得名于橄榄棕和铅灰色的皮肤颜色。这种蛇喜欢在岩石边缘和河岸泥泞处晒太阳，因此和周围环境相近的体色可以保护它们免受天敌攻击。

Plumbeous water snakes mainly feed on small fish, frogs, tadpoles, and fish eggs. They hunt by stealthily swimming just below the water’s surface, searching for prey.

铅色水蛇主要以小鱼、青蛙、蝌蚪和鱼卵为食，它们悄悄地在水下游动以寻找猎物。

Reproduction in these snakes begins in April when males chase after and wrestle with females. Once a male has successfully mated with a female, she will search for a secluded spot on land to lay her eggs sometime in May or June. The young snakes emerge two months later, fully equipped to hunt small fish and frogs.

这些蛇在四月开始繁殖，雄性蛇会追逐并与雌性蛇进行角斗。雄性蛇成功与雌性蛇交配后，雌性蛇会在五月或六月寻找隐蔽的陆地产卵。两个月后，幼蛇出生，它们一出生便已具备狩猎小鱼和青蛙的能力。

A plumbeous water snake in Bijia Hill Park.

Plumbeous water snakes play an essential role in Shenzhen’s ecology. They help control populations of fish, frogs, and small rodents that feed on fish eggs and young fish. Their presence indicates healthy water quality since these snakes cannot tolerate polluted environments.

铅色水蛇在深圳的生态系统中扮演着重要角色，它们帮助控制以鱼卵和小鱼为食的鱼、青蛙和小啮齿动物的数量。由于无法在污染环境中生存，铅色水蛇是水质健康的重要指示物种。

Plumbeous water snakes spend almost their entire lives within a few feet of shore, basking on branches and rocks during the day and hunting from just below the water’s surface at night. If you’re lucky enough to spot one, take a moment to appreciate its beautiful eyes and iridescent olive scales.

铅色水蛇几乎整个生命周期都在距离岸边几英尺的范围内度过，白天在树枝和岩石上晒太阳，夜间在水面下寻找猎物。如果有幸看到了它们，请花点时间欣赏它们美丽的眼睛和闪闪发光的橄榄色鳞片。