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

• Homalopsis Buccata Snake Bite
• Masked Water Snake Bite
• Puff-Faced Water Snake Bite

What is Linne's Water Snake Bite? (Definition/Background Information)

• The Linne's water snake (Homalopsis buccata) 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 over 2.5 feet to almost 4.5 feet in length. It is a semi-aquatic snake that spends most of its time on the banks of fresh waterbodies feeding on fish, crustaceans, and frogs. The snake mostly hunts at night (nocturnal reptile)
• Linne's water snake is more commonly known as the masked water snake or puff-faced water snake. It is widely distributed across parts of southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent in the countries of Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. This snake is found in a wide range of habitats but mostly in wet tropical forests at altitudes up to 2,000 feet (600 m) near rivers, streams, lakes, and ponds, in mud burrows at the base of trees
• It has a fairly heavy cylindrical body with a medium-sized tail. Its puffed-up head is relatively large, broad, with small eyes, and distinct from the narrow neck; the snake has a rounded snout. Linne's water snake may vary in coloration and patterns from region to region but is generally dark gray-brown with slightly darker bands and light cream to yellow underbelly that creeps into the sides. The head and snout color is same as the body color
• Human contact with this water snake is not uncommon. In some regions, especially in Cambodia, the snake is commonly harvested for its skin and meat. The snake is not known to bite and has a very mild disposition. Linne's Water Snake Bites are rare and since the snake is generally non-venomous to humans, the snake bite does not cause any envenomation
• There may be some mild effects at the bite site, including pain, swelling, and local numbness. 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 Linne's Water Snake Bites have excellent prognoses; lethal bites are not reported