Distributed range & status
Endemic snake found in Sri Lanka low country & intermediate zones. Wallawaya, Kantale, Sigiriya, Udawalawe, Trincomalee, Randenigala, Jaffna, Handapanagala, Polonnaruwa, Monaragala, Kurunagala, Yala, Bundala, Wilpattu.
Scales
rostral |
Broad scale |
frontal |
|
supraoculars |
|
parietals |
|
prefrontals |
|
nasals |
Divided scale |
internasals |
1 pair present |
loreals |
Very long scale |
preoculars |
1 |
postoculars |
2 |
temporals |
|
Supralabials |
9-10 (4-6 connects with the eye) |
mental |
|
infralabials |
|
sublinguals |
|
coastals |
|
ventrals |
198-214 pronounced keels present laterally. A notch is present with a lateral ridge |
anal |
1 scale is divided & the Pre anal is undivided |
subcaudals |
107-123 divided keels present. |
Mid body scales have 15 rows. Vertebral scales are not enlarged. Dorsal scales are smooth or may even be feebly keeled. Two 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
These snakes have dorsal body greenish yellow or pale green. There are orange or red spots between dark cross bands. The head is black dorsally with yellow & black cross bars. Ventral body is pale green with a series of black lateral spots on each side
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.
Breeding
They’re ovoviviparous snakes.
Growth
At birth 150-200mm & grow up to 600-900mm.
Food
Geckos, bats, rodents, birds & lizards comprise their diet. Some times even small snakes become their meal.
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