Distributed range & status
This snake is commonly found in lowlands about 1500m in Sri Lanka. Also found in India’s Western Ghats.
Scales
rostral |
|
frontal |
1 smaller than lateral scales |
supraoculars |
|
parietals |
|
prefrontals |
|
nasals |
Divided scale |
internasals |
2 |
loreals |
1 (length is shorter than the width) |
preoculars |
1 (run along top of the head) |
postoculars |
2 or 3 |
temporals |
(3+3) or (3+4) |
Supralabials |
6 (4-6 connected to the eye) |
mental |
|
infralabials |
|
sublinguals |
|
coastals |
Keels are present |
ventrals |
209-267 |
anal |
1 scale undivided |
subcaudals |
91-112 divided |
19 mid body scale rows are present. Vertebrals are enlarged, clear & hexagonal.
Characteristics
Middle sized, narrow & long laterally flattened body is present. Rounded snout & clear neck region is present. Head gets narrow towards the end. Large eyes have vertical pupil. Long prehensile tail is present.
Colour
Dorsal body of this snake is light tan or grey in colour, a transverse bar on neck meets along streak on the nape. A series of alternating dark brown & pale chevrons, venter cream flecked with brown. The dots become larger towards the venter. Spreading lung shaped dark brown or black patch is present on the top of the head. A dark brown broad stripe runs from the snout passing through eye ends from the mouth.
Venom
These snakes are mildly venomous. Ophisthoglyphous fangs are present. Rear fangs are present. A rooster death is recorded in Deraniyagala (1955) after 47min of being bitten but serious bites have not being recorded for humans.
Behavior
It is known as an arboreal snake. They inhabit evergreen forests on shrubs as well as on the ground close to grass roots & tree hollows. Also found in human habitations in search of Geckos. They’re active in night when they hunt for food. When threatened, it raises its body in to loops, vibrating the tail tip & attempts to bite. Some times it’s seen hanging from its tail.
Breeding
They are oviparous snakes. They lay 3-15 eggs at a time in February & April.
Growth
At birth 250-300mm & grow up to 500-800mm. Males are larger in size than females. Rarely 1000-1200mm snakes are also recorded.
Food
Lizards, Geckos, mice, birds comprise their diet. Cannibalism is also known for them.
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