# Tentacled Snake (*Erpeton tentaculatum*) The Tentacled Snake is a unique snake that has special tentacle-like structures on its head! It loves to swim and can often be found in water, making it a fascinating creature to discover. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Tentacled Snake](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Tentacled_Snake_at_Zoo.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ruby 1x2, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tentacled_Snake_at_Zoo.jpg) ## Appearance The Tentacled Snake is a small, slender aquatic snake, typically brown or grey with darker blotches and a somewhat flattened body. It has a unique pair of fleshy, tentacle-like structures on its snout, making it easily distinguishable. Its scales are keeled, aiding in underwater movement. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Homalopsidae - **Genus:** Erpeton ## Interesting facts - Baby snakes are born live, already swimming and hunting tiny fish! - Despite being venomous, its fangs are too small to harm people! - It's the only snake with two fleshy tentacles on its snout! - This snake can make a 'fence' with its body to trap fish! ## Special abilities - **Vibration Sensors:** Tentacled Snake can detect subtle water vibrations using its unique facial tentacles to pinpoint prey even in murky water. - **Fish Frightener:** Tentacled Snake has a specialized strike that startles fish, causing them to reflexively swim into its waiting mouth. - **Underwater Stealth:** Tentacled Snake can remain submerged for over 30 minutes, allowing it to ambush prey without needing to surface for air. - **Living Camouflage:** Tentacled Snake has flattened keeled scales and a motionless hunting style that helps it blend perfectly with the riverbed. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-75 cm - **Weight:** 0.1-0.3 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-8 years - **Swim Speed:** 2 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 5 m ## Diet & Feeding This aquatic snake is a carnivore that ambushes small fish in freshwater. - **Primary Foods:** minnows, guppies, small freshwater fish - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Zebra Danio](https://www.snappit.app/explore/zebra-danio) (*Danio rerio*) — A common small fish in its habitat. - **Hunts:** [Guppy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/guppy) (*Poecilia reticulata*) — Hunts these small, fast-moving fish. - **Eaten by:** [Grey Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/grey-heron) (*Ardea cinerea*) — Large water birds may prey on them. - **Eaten by:** Walking Catfish (*Clarias batrachus*) — Larger fish, especially catfish, might eat young snakes. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a safe distance and never try to touch wild snakes. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Tentacled Snake? Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Tentacled Snake? 50-75 cm ### How much does Tentacled Snake weigh? 0.1-0.3 kg ### How long does Tentacled Snake live? 5-8 years ### What does Tentacled Snake eat? This aquatic snake is a carnivore that ambushes small fish in freshwater. ### How fast can Tentacled Snake swim? 2 km/h ### Where is Tentacled Snake usually found? Wetlands ### How does Tentacled Snake hunt? Ambush ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Tentacled Snake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tentacled-snake)