Distributed range & status
It’s an endemic species to Sri Lanka found in up to 1000m dry extreme zones & intermediate & wet zones. Elahara, Nikaweratiya, Polonnaruwa, Anuradapura, Balangoda, Beragala, Kandy, Pallekele, Peradeniya, Gampola, Koggala, Bellanwila, Mundal, Naula, Puttalum, Polgahawela.
Scales
rostral |
|
frontal |
Prefrontal 2 |
supraoculars |
|
parietals |
|
prefrontals |
|
nasals |
Touches the prefrontal |
internasals |
absent |
loreals |
absent |
preoculars |
absent |
postoculars |
1 |
temporals |
1 |
Supralabials |
6 (3 & 6 connects with the eye) |
mental |
|
infralabials |
|
sublinguals |
|
coastals |
|
ventrals |
185-212 |
anal |
1 divided |
subcaudals |
4-6 divided & non divided |
Dorsal body scales are smooth & overlapped. Body is shiny & iridescent. 19-21 mid body scale rows are present.
Characteristics
Head is depressed with a snout broadly rounded. Neck is not distinct. Tail is short.
Colour
Dorsal body is dull brick red or orange with black network enclosing 35-55 pairs of spots. The vertebral scale line is black or brown. Head & the tail consist of black colour. The neck region has a white ring around it. Ventral body is cream, white or light pink with black bars or may have variegated pattern.
Venom
These are non poisonous snakes.
Dentition
Data not found.
Behavior
They are subfossorial snakes found from low hills & mid hills. They are nocturnal & hide under stones or rocks, decaying logs, & may even dried up leaves. In the night they roam about searching snakes as prey. Do not tend to bite & are very lazy, non aggressive. They flatten the posterior half of the body & curl posterior quarter of body & tail forward with head concealed under the body, when threatened. This display may show that it contain 2 heads. Sometimes may even release a yellow liquid from the cloaca which has a bad odor.
Breeding
They are ovoviparous snakes & 1-15 off spring are produced at once.
Growth
At birth 100-150mm & adults grow up to 300-650mm.
Food
Their diet comprises of earth worms, amphibians, insects & non poisonous snakes. (Streaked kukri snake, Hemprich’s shieldtail, Rough sided snake, Boie’s Rough sided snake) They may even utilize preys that are larger than them.
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