Graceful Racer
Platyceps gracilis
Description 2
INTRODUCTION
- Non Venomous
- Also called : Slender Racer, Gunther's Racer.
- Very fast moving and slender snakes. Rarely seen.
IDENTIFICATION
- Slender body with smooth scales and yellowish belly with dark patches on the edge.
- Dark grayish brown dorsal color and become faint towards posterior.
- Light creamy round edged bands with black margins from behind neck, bands reduce to black patches towards tail.
- Head with arrowhead pattern & darker stripe joining eyes. Have large round pupils appearing to protrude.
- Confused with Sharma's racer and Russell's Kukri. Grow to 2-3 feet on average.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
- Dry parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh.
- Inhabit arid and dry forests, scrub and semi-deserts with low rainfall.
- Hide under and between boulders and dense bushes.
DIET AND BEHAVIOR
- Feed on geckos and small rodents..
- Diurnal activity and is mainly terrestrial.
- Alert and quick to flee. Restless, but non-offensive when handled.
Other Platyceps 2
Apart from Sharma's Racer(Southern India) & Graceful Racer(NW India), India only has one other species of Platyceps.
- Glossy Bellied Racer (Platyceps ventromaculatus) : Dry parts of Northwest India. Creamy dorsal with darker bands.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Vinay Gogula, all rights reserved, uploaded by Vinay Gogula
- (c) Vinay Gogula, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
More Info
iNat Map
| Toxicity | Non-Venomous |
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