Distributed range & status
It’s an endemic sub species Lycodon striatus sinhaleyus to Sri Lnaka found mostly in wet zone up to 1000m & also in dry & intermediate zone, mi & low country including Colombo, Negambo, Peradeniya, Kandy, Gampola, Kotte, Dehiwala, Udahentenna, Dambulla, Bolgoda & Galle. Also distributed in central Asia to India, Pakistan & Nepal Southern Asian subcontinent
Scale
rostral |
|
frontal |
|
supraoculars |
|
parietals |
|
prefrontals |
|
nasals |
1 divided having a broad fore part & narrow hind part |
internasals |
|
loreals |
Larger than nasal & connects with internasal |
preoculars |
1 |
postoculars |
2 |
temporals |
2+3 |
Supralabials |
8 (3-5 connects with the eye) |
mental |
|
infralabials |
6 (11) |
sublinguals |
|
coastals |
|
ventrals |
143-162 rounded |
anal |
1 divided |
subcaudals |
33-42 divided |
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
Dorsal body is black or dark brown with a series of 11-18 white or yellow transverse marks making triangular shapes, distance between which diminishes towards the tail. Neck has a broad white band. Eye is black. Tail has irregular light colour longitudinal streaks on the dorsal side. Supralabials are cream. Ventral body is unpatterned white or cream.
Venom
These snakes are non poisonous.
Dentition
Data not found.
Behavior
They are nocturnal, becomes active at dark time to catch geckos except in wet season, they are seen in the day time. Inhibits lowlands, forests edges & 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 shake the tail end fast. Do not try to bite most of the time.
Breeding
These are oviparous snakes laying 2-4 clutches of eggs at once in April. Females may even guard their eggs.
Growth
At birth 100-150mm & adult length of the snake is 250-450mm.
Food
They mainly eat Geckos, skinks & Lizards.
Identification
Lycodon striatus may be very similar to Bungarus spp. in colour but they are distinguished having enlarged, hexagonal vertebral scales, subcaudals also not divided & their heads are small in size.
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