Distributed range & status
These snakes are found in wet intermediate & some parts of dry zone human habitats & agricultural lands from 30-1500m of Sri Lanka. Also they are found in India, from almost sea level to an elevation of at least 1,829 m, the Peninsular to Western Ghats as far as 16° north latitude.
Scales
rostral |
The edge is sharp or pointed upwards |
frontal |
complete and quite large |
supraoculars |
complete and quite large as the prefrontal |
parietals |
complete and quite large |
prefrontals |
larger when compared with other Hypnale snakes. Divided by the frontal |
nasals |
single, but it may have a groove that extends towards its upper edge. Postnasal is joined |
internasals |
Not clear |
loreals |
single, but extends across the canthus rostralis so that it can be seen from above. |
preoculars |
3 |
postoculars |
1-2 |
temporals |
Bordering the supralabials 3-4 are enlarged, above which are 3-5 irregular rows of temporal scales. The lowest scale row is larger than the rest. |
Supralabials |
7-9 none touches the eye |
mental |
|
infralabials |
|
sublinguals |
|
coastals |
|
ventrals |
134-149 the number in males are higher |
anal |
undivided |
subcaudals |
32-48 (almost all are divided). The number in males are less |
There is one pair of chin shields, each of which is slightly longer than it is wide. At mid body there are 15 or 17 rows of dorsal scales, which are weakly keeled. Apical pits are present, but very difficult to see. Body scales may have small keels or smooth. The keels are lacking or may be entirely absent on the first two scale rows bordering the ventrals. The snout scales are small and irregular.
Characteristics
The body is relatively stout & cylindrical, but relatively slender compared to most other Crotalines. The head is distinct from the neck. The snout is more or less upturned, having a wart like protuberance at the tip that is covered with tiny scales. Nostrils are small. Pupil of the mid sized eye is vertical & elliptical. Rounded belly is present. The tail length is 14-18% of total body length in males, 11-16% in females. the smooth hemipenis is divided in to 2.
Colour
The colouration may vary, ranging ground colour to light brown to blackish brown, stippled with grey & heavy brown mottling. This is overlaid with a double row of 21-33 oval o triangular large dark marks, meeting at a vertebral region. A dark cheek stripe from eye to jaws is present. The belly is brownish or yellowish with dark mottling. The tip of the tail is yellow or reddish. The tail bear cross bands.
Venom
These are moderately venomous snakes & 27% of Sri Lankan snake bites are due to this snake. Bites from this species though previously thought to be innocuous, but now known to cause serious complications such as coagulopathy and acute renal failure.
Dentition
Data not found.
Behavior
They are mostly nocturnal, & are terrestrial. They are often seen coiled in bushes, timber, trunks, buttresses of trees, rocks where there is shade during the day, moving around on cloudy days, or under low light conditions. They are generally inoffensive, both in the wild and in captivity, rarely attempting to bite unless restrained or injured. They occur in dense jungles, dry forests, rain forests, both in low and hilly country, and in plantations such as tea, rubber, cocoa & coconut. They sometimes are also found near or in human habitations. It has an irritable disposition, flattening the body and will vibrate its tail when annoyed. They do not make hissing noises.
Breeding
These are viviparous snakes. The breeding season of these snakes are in March & July. 4-17 young are produced at once.
Growth
These snakes at birth measure 120-150mm & grow to a maximum length of 250-230mm.
Food
Their diet includes small vertebrates such as lizards, snakes, frogs, also reptile eggs and small mammals.
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