Distributed range & status
These snakes are mostly found in low & middle country belonging to wet, dry & intermediate zones. Eluvankulama, Galle, Peradeniya, Kandy, Dambulla, Trinkomalee, Nachchadoova, Vauda, Sigiriya, Vilpaththu, Hanthana, Sinharaja, Madakalapuva, Balangoda, Kalupahana, Vadduva, Kithulgala, Horana, Rathnapura, Balangoda, Kanneliya, Anuradhapura, Polionnaruva, Kosslanda, Mathugama.
Scales
rostral |
|
frontal |
Elongated than ocular |
supraoculars |
|
parietals |
|
prefrontals |
|
nasals |
scale is not divided |
internasals |
1 elongated pair |
loreals |
absent |
preoculars |
1 big scales |
postoculars |
2 |
temporals |
(1-2) + (2-3) |
Supralabials |
|
mental |
|
infralabials |
|
sublinguals |
|
coastals |
15 |
ventrals |
179-196 |
anal |
|
subcaudals |
151-195 |
The body has 15 of mid body scale rows.
Characteristics
These snakes differ from Ahaetulla nasuta by having a longer snout ending with a pointed tip. They have a long, cylindrical prehensile tail. Rostral appendage is seen in grown snakes. Eyes contain horizontal pupils & a concave loreal region giving a vast visible area. Dermal appendage is longer than orbit of eye, & covered with small scales. Dorsal median groove is absent. Clear neck is present. The body is light, long & slender.
Colour
Dorsal body is grayish brown with brown speckles & dark brown bars or spots. The forehead has a dark brown distinct rhomboidal spot & a dark canthal stripe goes across both sides of the head. Ventral body is reddish light brown or grey. Rib scales contain light yellow xanthiscuta type of colour.
Venom
They’re mildly venomous. Opisthoglyphous type poison gland is present.
Dentition
These snakes contain of Maxillary: 13 or 14, Palatine: 7 to 10, Pterygoid: 17 to 28 & Mandibular: around 20
Behavior
They are arboreal & diurnal, mostly found on small & medium sized bushes. They may be also fount on big trees & on land rarely. When disturbed they try to bite & are very sensitive for movements in the environment. The bites cause mild pain, & swelling for few days.
Breeding
They are viviparous & about 6-12 young are produced at once.
Growth
At birth they measure 200-350mm & when grown 800-1300mm. Female snakes are longer than male snakes.
Food
Their diet consists of lizards, frogs, insects &birds.
Identification
The characteristic form of this snake often divulges its identity at a distance. However in order to distinguish it from its close relative A.nasuta it should be noted that in Sri Lanka A.nasuta is more pale to dark green with white stripes while A.pulverulentus is more towareds brownish grey. The latter often has more Ventral and Subcaudal scales, along with numerous smaller scales on its nasal appendage.
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