Acrochordidae

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Snakes

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes

Species

Acrochordus granulatus
Acrochordus arafurae
Acrochordus javanicus

Acrochordidae is a family of three species of primitive xenophidian snakes from the Australian and Indonesian regions. All are entirely aquatic, lacking the broad belly-scales found in most other snakes and possessing dorsally located eyes. Their most notable feature is their skin and scales. The skin is loose and baggy, giving the impression of being several sizes too large for the snake, and the scales, rather than overlapping, are tiny pyramidal projections that lead to the common names of Wart snakes or File snakes.

In nature, these snakes lurk at the bottom of rivers and streams (though some inhabit estuaries), and wait for fish to approach, which they catch by slamming their coils together. The rough scales allow them to hold the fish, even through the fish's mucus coating. Species of this family range from 2 to 8 feet long.

These animals are rapidly becoming rare as their hides are used for handbags and leather (stripped of scales, of course). Numerous attempts have been made by both zoos and private reptile collectors to keep them, but in all cases, they have been reluctant to feed and prone to skin infections.