Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
28 December 2012
Wadi Racer – Raghadan Forest (Baha)
I found this Wadi Racer at the
top of Raghadan Forest Reserve whilst walking through the trees looking for
birds. The snake was actively hunting and I saw it moving swiftly across the
ground. It was about one metre in length and moved very fast but when it
noticed me it hid under a rock. I carefully moved the rock and was able to take
a couple of photographs of it before it moved off and was lost to sight down
the rocky slopes of the forest. Although quite a long snake they are not very
thick being only about 5 centimetres across. They are a highly active snake and one of the
most common in the region with a highly variable external morphology, particularly ventral scales, possibly
depending on habitat. They are often found in wadis with permanent
running water, although they can also live in dry desert regions and on
mountain sides where it usually occurs in rocky areas. They are active by day
or at dawn and dusk and actively hunt by tracking prey by sight, and chasing it
with great speed and agility. Their diet includes fish, tadpoles, toads,
reptiles, small mammals and birds and although lacking venomous fangs, the
saliva of the Wadi Racer may have a mildly toxic effect.