Description ³

INTRODUCTION

• Non Venomous
• Found in peninsular India and Sri Lanka.
• Among the Natricine snakes or Keelbacks.

IDENTIFICATION

• Stocky, viper-like body with highly keeled scales but appears slightly glossy.
• Bright green dorsal with sometimes irregular black bands or patches.
• Wide head, round pupils and neck often has an inverted V with black and yellow.
• Juveniles are more brightly colored with bands, they fade and disappear as they grow.
• Grow to 2 feet on average.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

• Throughout peninsular India but not so common. Not found north of MP, Odisha.
• Inhabits mainly hill forests and sometimes plains too.
• Lives in moist vegetation, dense bushes and leaf litter.
• Prefers close proximity to water-bodies.

DIET AND BEHAVIOR

• Feed primarily on toads and frogs. Hardly accepts other prey.
• Have long rear teeth specialized to catch slippery frogs.
• Nocturnal and crepuscular of terrestrial activity.
• Non-offensive and try to escape or freeze into an S when nervous.
• Flattens the neck and raises head showing hood patternlike a cobra if provoked.
• Show no aggressive behavior and can bite in a chew manner if harassed for long.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Mandar Kulkarni, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Mandar Kulkarni
2. (c) Vinay Gogula, all rights reserved, uploaded by Vinay Gogula
3. (c) Vinay Gogula, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HerpMapper
• Snake Database
• The Reptile Database
• VertNet

iNat Map