Distributed range & status
In Sri Lanka they’re found in wet, intermediate, dry arid zones up to 750m, low country & mid country. Also these snakes are known from the countries Pakistan, Nepal & India.
Scales
rostral |
|
frontal |
Shorter than the lateral scales & similar to |
supraoculars |
Similar to frontal supraoculars |
parietals |
|
prefrontals |
|
nasals |
Divided scale |
internasals |
2 |
loreals |
1 length is about as much as nasal |
preoculars |
1 |
postoculars |
2 |
temporals |
(2+2) |
Supralabials |
9 (5 & 6 connects with the eye) |
mental |
|
infralabials |
|
sublinguals |
|
coastals |
|
ventrals |
150-205 Lateral ridge consist of a notch. |
anal |
Divided scale |
subcaudals |
105-152 divided sharp lateral ridge is present. |
Mid body is consisting of 15 rows of scales. A smooth apical pit is present in lateral scales. vertebrals are clear & enlarged.
Characteristics
Cylindrical, narrow, slender body is present with a dorso-ventrally flattened pear shaped head. The neck region is clear. Long & compressed snout is present. The tip of it is broad & rounded. The nostrils are present laterally & there rounded. Round pupil is present in large eyes. Prehensile tail is 1/3 of the body of the snake.
Colour
Dorsal body is unpatterned purplish brown or bronze-brown. The anterior of the body has oblique black streaks black stripe run across the eye. Vertebral scales on the neck & fore body scales are yellow. It has a buff flank stripe from neck to vent. Ventral body is pale grey, green or yellow. The tongue is blue & iris is golden colour.
Venom
These snakes are non poisonous.
Dentition
Data not found.
Behavior
They are diurnal & arboreal. Also found terrestrial forage lands. They prefer edge of water bodies to live in. These are very active snakes spend most of their time shaking the head to the sides & may attack due to it being a bit aggressive. They can take long jumps through trees up to distances of 25m. When exited they reveal light blue colour on neck between scales. Ventral keels help them to climb trees.
Breeding
These are oviparous snakes breeding continuously. They lay eggs in tree hollows. 6-7 long eggs are laid by them at a time in tree hollows or deserted bird nests which hatch in June. It has 4-6 weeks of an incubation period.
Growth
At birth 150mm & grow in to an adult length of 700-900mm.
Food
Diet consists of lizards, geckos & tree frogs. Small birds & birds eggs are also comprises by them. They have the ability to jump on to a prey which is a bit far from it & their sharp eye sight helps them to identify long distance prey.
Identification
Dendrelaphis tristis differ in having vertebral scales on the neck & fore body scales being yellow from other Dendrelaphis spp & also it has a blue tongue.
|
