Distributed range & status
The sub species of this type of snakes Ptyas mucosa maximus is endemic to Sri Lanka. They are found up to 2000m in many ecosystems, forests, home gardens around the island. Jaffna, Horton. Also distributed from Turkmenistan & Iran, through Bangladesh, East dto southern China & South East Asia, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan.
Scales
rostral |
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frontal |
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supraoculars |
|
parietals |
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prefrontals |
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nasals |
Divided scale |
internasals |
1 pair is present |
loreals |
1-4 |
preoculars |
1-2 |
postoculars |
2 (less than 3) |
temporals |
2+2 |
Supralabials |
8 (4-5 connects with the eye) |
mental |
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infralabials |
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sublinguals |
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coastals |
Slightly keeled |
ventrals |
180-213 |
anal |
1 scale divided |
subcaudals |
95-146 divided |
Mid body scales have 16-18 rows. Body scales are smooth. Vertebrals are some times enlarged.
Characteristics
Strong body tapers towards the anterior & posterior ends. Body is robust. Head is elongated & dorsoventrally flattened. The head is distinct from the neck & the snout is elongated. The nostrils are in lateral position. The eyes are large with rounded pupil. Ail is long & cylindrical. The tail is ¼ of the body length.
Colour
The dorsal body colouration is highly variable. The body is yellowish brown, olive brown to black. Posterior of the body have dark bands or reticulate patterns. The ventral body is grayish white or yellow. White skin reveals between some body scales.
The off springs are greenish brown, with light bluish gray cross bands on the anterior body. Mouth & neck scales are darker in colour.
Venom
These snakes are non poisonous.
Dentition
Data not found.
Behavior
They are diurnal & terrestrial. Inhabits a variety of forest types & are found mostly in fields, deserts, mangroves, scrubland, parks & cities. Also found on trees. The prehensile tail comes in handy to climb on trees. When excited try to escape fast as possible. It produces a variety of sounds, from a hiss, to a low growl when cannot escape fast & tries to attack. The bites may cause wounds. They also discharge a bad order from the body. These snakes aestivate.
Breeding
They show combat dances, when two males are seen partially entwine, with the fore bodies raised. They’re oviparous snakes with clutches of 9-14 eggs laid at once deposited in termite mounds. Female snakes are known to guard the eggs. Incubation consists of 60 days.
Growth
At birth 435-472mm & grow up to 1500-2500mm. This is known as the second largest snake of Sri Lanka. Male is longer. 3583mm specimen is found from India.
Food
Diet comprises frogs, Rats, rodents, bats, birds, lizards & turtles. Some times even bird eggs & other snakes include the diet. They show cannibalism. The prey is paralyzed by compressing it to the ground. Small preys are taken alive.
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