Keel-bellied water snake

"Bitia" redirects here. For the former Punic and Roman town on Sardinia, see Bithia, Italy. For town of ancient Epirus, see Bitia (Epirus).

The keel-bellied water snake (Bitia hydroides) is a marine homalopsine snake. It belongs to the monotypic genus Bitia.^[2]

Keel-bellied Water Snake
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Homalopsidae
Genus:	Bitia Gray, 1842 [1]
Species:	B. hydroides
Binomial name
Bitia hydroides Gray, 1842

Geographic range

It is found in Malaysia.

Dentition

Bitia hydroides is noted for its unusual dentition. In all other snakes, any enlarged teeth are located on the dentary or maxilla, with the inner, palatine teeth of the upper jaw being smaller. In Bitia hydroides, the palatine teeth are greatly enlarged. Not enough is known about this animal's feeding behavior or ecology to attempt to infer a function of this peculiar arrangement.

See also

• Snake skull
• Snake dentition