Distributed range & status
In Sri Lanka, this snake occupies the lowland wet, intermediate & dry zones. Found in Kanneliya, Sinharaja, Akurassa, Labugama, Dompe, Henarathgoda, matugama, Kahawatta, Kumana, Minnariya, Trincomalee, Koslanda ect. Also there’s a wide spread from the foothills of Himalayas, to Peninsular India & Nepal.
Scales
rostral |
|
frontal |
|
supraoculars |
|
parietals |
|
prefrontals |
|
nasals |
Divided scale |
internasals |
2 |
loreals |
1 |
preoculars |
1 (run along top of the head) |
postoculars |
2 |
temporals |
(3+3) or (3+4) |
Supralabials |
8-9 (3-5 or 4-6 connected to the eye) |
mental |
|
infralabials |
|
sublinguals |
|
coastals |
Keels are present |
ventrals |
254-273 |
anal |
1 scale undivided |
subcaudals |
102-119 divided |
25-29 mid body scale rows are present. Vertebrals are smooth, enlarged, clear & hexagonal. All body scales have apical pits. Lateral keels are present.
Characteristics
Long, large laterally flattened slender body is present. Clear neck region & rounded snout is present. Head is distinct from neck & more or less triangular in shape. Vertically elliptical pupil is present in large eyes. Long & prehensile tail is present.
Colour
Found in many colour variations. Some times dorsally dark red ventrally light in colour, unclear yellow or orange cross bars may occur in light red or orange dorsal body ventrally light body, one over another black & white cross bars with dorsal body dark grey ventrally dark marks in light background. Dorsally dark brown with white cross bars ventrally light brown body. Some may have a lateral white line along the body. In most there is a dark strip & a light strip on the head. The same may begin from the back of the eye & run towards the neck region.
Venom
These snakes are mildly venomous. Ophisthoglyphous fangs are present. Large back fangs are present. A dog’s death is recorded. A bite from this snake should be taken seriously.
Dentition
Data not found.
Behavior
Nocturnal & arboreal inhabits forested tracks & agricultural fields. They hide in tree hollows during the day time. At night it comes out to hunt. When threatened, it raises its body in to loops, shaking the tail tip & attempts to bite. When bitten the wound may become swollen & mild pain is occurred. It may last for a few hours or few days. Some times makes hissing noises.
Breeding
They are oviparous snakes. They lay clutches of 5-10 eggs between August to September.
Growth
This snake is known as the largest Cat snake found in Sri Lanka. Adult is 1500-2000mm.
Food
Their diet consists of lizards, birds, bird eggs & small mammals. Some times it may utilize other snakes. They may constrict the prey & crush before eating.
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