Distributed range & status
It’s commonly found in lowlands of dry, intermediate & wet zones up to 1000m. Kandy, Suriya wawa, Polonnaruwa, Monaragala, Aluthnuwara, Serukale, Sinharaja, Namunukula, Nachchaduwa, Wallawaya, Haldumulla, Haputale, Yala, Kumana, Hulandawa, Udawalawa, Hantana, Jaffna. Also their wide spread in Indian Peninsula, Middle East to Pakistan, India, & Nepal.
Scales
rostral |
|
frontal |
1 smaller than lateral scales |
supraoculars |
|
parietals |
|
prefrontals |
|
nasals |
1 is divided |
internasals |
2 |
loreals |
1 |
preoculars |
1 (does not run towards the top of the head, may be spread a bit) |
postoculars |
2 |
temporals |
2+3 |
Supralabials |
8 (3-5 connected to the eye) |
mental |
|
infralabials |
7 |
sublinguals |
|
coastals |
|
ventrals |
206-256 |
anal |
undivided |
subcaudals |
75-96 divided |
21-23 mid body scale rows are present. Scales are smooth. Vertebrals are smooth, feebly enlarged, clear & hexagonal. All lateral 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. Vertically elliptical pupil is present in large eyes. Long & prehensile tail is present.
Colour
Dorsal body of this snake is yellow to grayish brown with a series of light grey, black edged markings. They’re arrow head shaped that may form the vertebral line. Light grey, black edged, Y shaped marking is present on the top of the forehead. A narrow dark streak, bordered above with light grey runs from behind eye to angle of mouth. Ventral body colour consists of white or grey. It’s also speckled with dark grey spots or with black spots on the outer margins of the ventrals.
Venom
These snakes are mildly venomous. Ophisthoglyphous fangs are present. It is a rear fanged snake. A bite has not caused any serious effect.
Dentition
Data not found.
Behavior
Nocturnal & arboreal & could be found on the ground as well. This snake is active at night especially on thatched roofs of village houses. Inhabits forests, disturbed environments, parks, gardens & also enter houses. They hide in tree hollows by curling them selves in to a ball during the day time. At night it comes out to hunt. Enter in to houses in search of Geckos. 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. Sometimes an unpleasant odor is released from the cloaca.
Breeding
They are oviparous snakes. They lay clutches of 3-11 eggs in August & October. Incubation is 35-43 days & the young comes out in September & November.
Growth
Hatchlings measure 237-260mm & the adult 400-700mm.
Food
Their diet consists of lizards, mice, birds, bird eggs & small mammals.
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