Homalopsidae
Jack's Water Snake
HarmlessHomalopsis mereljcoxi
2 photographs of the Jack's Water Snake. © Jay Paroline.
The Jack's Water Snake (Homalopsis mereljcoxi) is a non-venomous snake in the Homalopsidae family, recorded in 6 countries.
- Family
- Homalopsidae
About the Jack's Water Snake
The Jack's Water Snake belongs to the Homalopsidae family, mud & water snakes. Aquatic, mud-dwelling snakes with upward-facing eyes and nostrils.
Homalopsids are aquatic and semi-aquatic snakes of muddy waters, with valved nostrils and eyes set high on the head for life at the surface. Many are rear-fanged. They feed on fish, frogs, and crustaceans.
Its genus, Homalopsis, covers puff-faced water snakes. Thick-bodied Southeast Asian water snakes built for hunting fish and frogs in muddy, slow-moving water.
The Jack's Water Snake is non-venomous and harmless to people. Like most snakes it is a quiet predator that helps keep rodents and other small prey in check.
It has been recorded in Thailand, Viet Nam, China, Cambodia, Myanmar and Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Jack's Water Snake
- Is the Jack's Water Snake venomous?
- No. The Jack's Water Snake (Homalopsis mereljcoxi) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Jack's Water Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Jack's Water Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Jack's Water Snake dangerous?
- The Jack's Water Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Jack's Water Snake live?
- The Jack's Water Snake has verified records in 6 countries, including Thailand, Viet Nam, China. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Homalopsidae snakes
Puff-faced Water SnakeHomalopsis buccata
Deuve's Water SnakeHomalopsis nigroventralis
Homalopsis semizonataHomalopsis semizonata
Southeast Asian BockadamCerberus schneiderii
Rainbow Mud SnakeEnhydris enhydris
Murphy's Mud SnakeHypsiscopus murphyi
Rice Paddy SnakeHypsiscopus plumbeus
Chinese Water SnakeMyrrophis chinensis
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Homalopsidae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Homalopsis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Homalopsis mereljcoxi
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.