Distributed range & status
This snake is an endemic species to Sri Lanka & widely distributed in wet & dry zones such as Balangoda, Kitulgala, Badulla, Kandy, Matale, Colombo, Dambulla, Habarana, Pelmadulla, Neboda, Yatiyantota, Moragalla, Kurunegala, Kekirawa, Puttalam, Gampola, Kosgama, Labugama, Nuwara eliya, Anuradhapura, Sinharaja, Hantana, Peradeniya..
Scales
rostral |
|
frontal |
|
supraoculars |
2-3 large |
parietals |
|
prefrontals |
|
nasals |
Partially divided in to 2 or may not be divided. |
internasals |
|
loreals |
|
preoculars |
3 |
postoculars |
2-3 |
temporals |
|
Supralabials |
9-10 |
mental |
|
infralabials |
3-4 |
sublinguals |
|
coastals |
|
ventrals |
142-160 |
anal |
undivided |
subcaudals |
53-69 divided |
At mid body there are 17-19 rows of dorsal scales. The body may contain small keels or may eve lack them. Moat head shields are small & smooth.
Characteristics
This is a mid sized, long body cylindrical snake. The neck is distinct from the flattened, triangular head. There are loreal pits at the 2 sides of the head. Short, rounded & broad snout is present. Mid sized eyes are present & the tail is short & prehensile.
Colour
The ground colour of the snake is variable & cryptic. Typical green snake with black variegated pattern & a black temporal line present. The wet zone snakes have these black patterns more clearly. Vertebral area has a tinge of yellow. The tail is black. The ventral body is light greenish yellow or may even be grey. There are some snakes with only the black temporal line & the tail but rest of the body being green.
Venom
These are moderately venomous snakes. The bitten area gets swollen & the pain of the wound may last for a few days. Blisters occur. Ptosis & lymphadenopathy takes place. Also in some victims polyuric renal failure & cardiac elecrophysiological dysfunction occur.
Dentition
Data not found.
Behavior
They are nocturnal & diurnal. They are the only arboreal vipers found in Sri Lanka. Mostly occupies in grasslands & rain forests. Also they are seen in plantations of cardamom, cocoa, coffee & tea between elevations of 153-1075m. They use their tail to hold on to a tree branch. In mornings they are seen to stay on top of trees to obtain sun rays to heat their bodies. They are generally inoffensive & sluggish. When irritated, they vibrate its tail, forms a sinuous loop with the fore body & lash out attempting to attack. They also have known to make hissing noises.
Breeding
These are viviparous snakes. 5-25 young are produced at once.
Growth
These snakes measure 200-250mm at birth & grow to a maximum length of 600-750mm.
Food
Their diet includes lizards, frogs & rats. They catch their prey at night. They descend to the ground in search of food.
|
