Distributed range & status
The sub species of this type of snakes are endemic to Sri Lanka. They’re found in wet intermediate zone & dry zones low & mid country up to 600m. Balangoda, Labugama, Thabbowa, Galle, Kurunagala, Katharagama, Weyangoda, Sinharaja, Hanthana, Deniyaya, Kagalle, Pasyala, Kuruwita, Kalutara, Randenigala, Gampaha, Kantale, Yala, Akurassa, Puttalum, Veyangoda, Matugama, Pungala. Some species are found in Nepal, East to south Asia.
Scales
rostral |
Bell shaped scale |
frontal |
|
supraoculars |
Longer as the frontal |
parietals |
|
prefrontals |
|
nasals |
1 is divided |
internasals |
|
loreals |
Very long scale |
preoculars |
1 |
postoculars |
2 |
temporals |
2+2 |
Supralabials |
9 (4-6 connects with the eye) |
mental |
|
infralabials |
|
sublinguals |
|
coastals |
|
ventrals |
204-235 Pronounced keels laterally. A notch is present with a lateral ridge |
anal |
1 is divided & the Pre anal is divided |
subcaudals |
116-138 divided |
Mid body scales have 17-19 rows. Vertebral scales are not enlarged. Dorsal scales are smooth or may even be feebly keeled. Apical pits are present.
Characteristics
Medium sized snake has a long, slender & laterally flattened body. Clear neck region with a dorso-ventrally flattened pear shaped head is present. Broad round snout & large eyes with round pupil is present. Nostrils are large & the tail is prehensile.
Colour
Dorsal body is olive mixed brown or orange mixed brown. There are spiny black 60-62 cross band with the yellow lining & spreads towards the lateral sides. The haed is dorsaly yellow with black cross bands. There are lateral spots on each side of the head. The ventral body is light yellow with black lateral spots. Sub caudals may lack dots most of the time. Juveniles have the black colour more prominently.
Venom
These snakes are mildly poisonous. No symptoms are shown when bitten.
Dentition
Data not found.
Behavior
These are diurnal snakes & are arboreal. Old trees, cultivations & secondary vegetation are their main inhabitants. They some times enter in to houses in search of food. These snakes are capable of making spectacular long glides between trees. They flatten their body in to a ribbon at these times. This behavior is mostly seen in juveniles. When gliding, they cannot change the path but can glide 50-100m. This snake may bite some times.
Breeding
They’re oviparous & 6-17 eggs are laid at a time between May-June. They have an incubation period of 65-80 days. Young hatch from the eggs in June-July.
Growth
At birth 100-250mm & grow up to 800-1200mm.
Food
Geckos, bats, rodents, birds & lizards comprise their diet. Some times even small snakes become their meal. Their sharp eye sight helps them to catch flying birds.
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