Distributed range & status
Found in most areas of Sri Lanka except for very high mountain sides.

Scales

Mid body consist of 17 rows of scales. Scales are smooth.

Characteristics
Body is long, cylindrical. The hind body is a bit narrowed. Head is flattened having a shape of a pear. The snout is broad & projects beyond lower jaw. The neck is distinct. Length of tail is 1/5 of the body.

Colour
Colours may vary. Neck region has a white band around it. Labials are white. There is a black stripe under the eye & the eye is completely black in colour. Dorsal body is grayish brown, brown or black with 35-45 white cross bars. These bars may even be absent sometimes. Consist of enclosing triangular patches. They may contain speckled with brown that expand laterally. Ventral body is cream or yellowish white.

Venom
These snakes are non poisonous.

Dentition
Data not found.

Behavior
They are nocturnal, becomes active at dark time to catch geckos. Inhibits lowlands, parks & also enter human dwellings of rural areas. They occupy on roofs & abandoned storerooms.  Mainly terrestrial but also may be found on trees. Tree hollows, under rocks, caves are also common for them to go search for food. They are very fast movers & active. They try to escape fast when excited or may flatten the body making a knot & hide its head in the ball. They may release an odor which has a bad smell & may even try to bite at times which can wound to a certain amount.

Breeding
These are oviparous snakes laying 3-11 clutches of eggs at once in February-July. Females may even guard their eggs. They may breed more than once in a year. Young hatch out of the egg in September-October.
 
Growth
At birth 140-180mm & adult length of the snake is 300-700mm.

Food
They mainly eat Geckos & Lizards. But also utilize other snakes, rodents & mice.