As of March 2018, The Pryers Keelback (Hebius pryeri) is considered a venomous snake found throughout the Ryukyu Islands. They are rear-fanged and require a strong long-term chewing style bite to inject the venom into the wound. They are a very common snake found on Okinawa. I often find them in the Yanbaru forest on my night dwellings.
- Scientific name: Hebius pryeri
- Local name: The Pryers Keelback
- Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
- Habitat: Forests, grasslands, streams and rice fields
- Diet: Frogs, frog eggs and small reptiles
- Average size: 60cm-115cm
- Color: Black & yellow with yellow bell
This year (2018) the Okinawa government posted some education posters to bring awareness about the snakes of Okinawa. I was surprised to see the Pryers Keelback is now considered venomous.
Venomous snakes of Okinawa
A Pryers Keelback snake with a unique pattern searching for frog eggs. Kume Island
The Pryers Keelback -Kume Island © Shawn Miller
A juvenile Keelback searching for frogs near a fresh water stream. Izena Island
Pryers Keelback – Izena Island © Shawn Miller
Look close at the split tongue flickering back.
Pryers Keelback – Yanburu forest © Shawn Miller
The Pryers Keelback mainly feeds on the small frogs. Its favorite meal is the Kajika frog!
Ryukyu Kajika frog © Shawn Miller
They generally feed on the animals head first.
Ryukyu Kajika frog © Shawn Miller
Sometimes you will see them eat frogs feet first. This makes for a more interesting photograph.
Never give up – © Shawn Miller
Holding on tight – Never give up!
Snake feeding on kajika frog © Shawn Miller
One of my favorite photographs of snake predation. A very large Pryer’s keelback feeding on a White jawed frog.
Pryer’s keelback feeding on a white jawed frog © Shawn Miller
I often find these snakes dead in the road. A large Yanbaru forest crab (Candidiopotamon okinawense) took advantage of the situation.
Yanbaru forest crab feeding on a snake © Shawn Miller
My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands
This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature
Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support. Shawn M Miller.