Reptiles · Squamata · Xenopeltidae

Sunbeam Snake

Xenopeltis unicolor

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The sunbeam snake is a semi-fossorial snake of South-East Asia, of a brownish black that in full light produces a spectacular iridescence: its scales break light into every colour of the rainbow. It spends the day buried and comes out at night to hunt frogs and rodents. It is the only surviving member of a very ancient family.

Weight

753 g on average

Size

80 cm – 1.3 m

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestFreshwaterGrasslandCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Reptile Rainforest Freshwater Grassland

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Fun facts

Its iridescence is among the most intense in the animal kingdom: microscopic layers on the surface of the scales diffract light, producing flashes of every colour of the spectrum against an almost black background.
It belongs to a family with only two living species, a very ancient lineage whose position in the snake family tree has been debated for decades.
It is common in the rice fields of South-East Asia, where it hunts rodents and frogs, and its presence is considered beneficial for the pest control it provides.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Rice fields, rainforest, plantations and gardens of South-East Asia
Sexual maturity: 2 years
Gestation / incubation: 60 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 10 eggs

Sources consulted: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenopeltis_unicolor