Types of mangrove snakes

Myron is a small genus in the family Homalopsidae, the mud snakes and Indo-Australian water snakes. The family is a group of mostly aquatic and semiaquatic snakes adapted to slow water, estuaries, and mud, and Myron sits squarely in its coastal, salt-tolerant wing. The two species in our database, the Broome Mangrove Snake and Richardson's Mangrove Snake, are northern Australian forms tied to mangrove and tidal flat habitats. They are modest in size, typically well under a meter, with stout bodies, smooth or weakly keeled scales, and eyes and nostrils set high on the head, all hallmarks of snakes that spend their time in shallow muddy water.

These are coastal animals of tropical northern Australia and nearby waters, living in mangrove forests, tidal creeks, mudflats, and estuaries where fresh and salt water mix. Like other homalopsids they are most active at night and at the tide's edge, foraging across exposed mud and through shallow channels. In general terms you recognize a Myron by the combination of a small heavy-bodied water snake found in brackish coastal mud, with upward-facing eyes and nostrils and a habit of moving with the tides rather than living far inland.

Myron is rear-fanged, meaning it has enlarged grooved teeth toward the back of the upper jaw and a mild venom used to subdue small prey such as fish and crustaceans, the typical homalopsid diet. The venom is adapted to those prey, not to people, and these snakes are not considered dangerous to humans, but rear-fanged does not mean harmless: a prolonged chewing bite can deliver venom and cause local effects, so no wild snake should be handled. Homalopsids in this group are generally live-bearing, producing small litters. If a bite causes a reaction beyond minor local irritation, do not wait it out at home, contact US Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or your local emergency services.