What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Chinese Rice Paddy Snake Bite
• Enhydris Chinensis Snake Bite
• Myrrophis Chinensis Snake Bite

What is Chinese Mud Snake Bite? (Definition/Background Information)

• The Chinese mud snake (Myrrophis chinensis or Enhydris chinensis) is a non-venomous snake (mildly venomous per some literature) that belongs to the family Homalopsidae, which include stout-bodied water snakes. The snake ranges in size from 1.5 feet to almost 3 feet in length. It is an aquatic snake that spends most of its time in stagnant fresh waterbodies feeding on fish, crustaceans, and frogs. The snake mostly hunts at night (nocturnal reptile)
• Chinese mud snake is also known as the Chinese water snake and Chinese rice paddy snake, as it is found commonly in irrigated rice fields. It is distributed across parts of North and Southeast Asia in the countries of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Vietnam. This snake is found in a wide range of habitats but mostly in the wet tropical regions at altitudes up to 3,600 feet (1,100 m), in cultivated fields and fresh/brackish water bodies such as streams, canals, and ponds. Some species have also been reported from the Straits of Hainan, China, in seawater
• It has a thick, compressed, cylindrical body with a short tail. Its head is almost triangular, broad, and flat, with small eyes, and distinct from its narrow neck; the snake has a short, rounded snout. Chinese mud snakes generally present dark brown head and body with black blotches/patterns that run along the length of the snake; some are olive green to blue-violet too. The underbelly is generally yellow to pink
• Human contact with this water snake is not uncommon. In some regions, the snake is commonly harvested for its oil, skin, and meat. The snake has a mild disposition but if provoked can produce painful bites. But, since the snake is generally non-venomous to humans, Chinese Mud Snake Bites does not cause any envenomation
• There may be some mild effects at the bite site, including pain, swelling, and local numbness; rarely, some may present mild nausea and dizziness. However, no significant systemic symptoms are observed. A treatment of the condition may involve wound cleaning, steps to prevent secondary infections, and tetanus shots, as needed. Individuals with Chinese Mud Snake Bites have excellent prognoses; lethal bites are not reported