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History: First noticed by Russel in 1776. It was christened as Coluber fasciolatus by Shaw.

Characteristics: A snake with a near uniform brownish colouration which is occasionally accompanied by the faint white transverse stripes, the remnants of its juvenile colouration. It is capable of flattening its forebody like a cobra. Its body is cylindrical and muscular, making it a very strong and fast snake. Behaviour: Diurnal and very active. It sticks to the forest floor and travels very swiftly avoiding human contact. If cornered it will erect its hood like a cobra and boldly strike if further challenged. It is very difficult to capture and will strike repeatedly and wiggle tenaciously if seized stopping only when exhausted. Once captive it becomes tame gradually but becomes extremely violent if roughly handled or molested.

Food: Chiefly feeds on rats and other small rodents. It may also consume frogs and lizards if provided the opportunity. It stalks out its prey and either kills it with its powerful jaws or swallows its prey alive.

Breeding: Very little known about its reproductive habits. It is probably oviparous like its closest relatives.

Growth: Little is known about is rate of growth. The young are camouflaged with black and white transverse stripes for protection. These stripes deteriorate with age. This snake may reach a maximum length of 1.2m

Venom: Non Venomous

Identification: This species can be identified from the following characteristics

• A Frontal shield that touches eight shields
• The fifth and sixth pairs of Supralabials touching the eye
• 21 to 23 rows of Costals two head lengths behind the head
• 23 rows of Costals at its midbody
• 17 rows of Costals two head lengths before the vent

Among the Sri Lankan snakes that can erect the neck area to form a hood it is the only specie to have a Frontal that touches eight shields.

Lepidosis:

• Rostral: Touches six shields.
• Frontal: Touches eight shields
• Parietals: Each individual shield is as large as the Frontal.
• Prefrontals: Near squarish in form.
• Supraoculars: Broad and long.
• Nasals: Divided in two along a vertical line on which the nostril is situated.
• Internasals: Each individual shield is nearly as large as a Prefrontal shield.
• Loreals: Entire and touch the third and fourth pairs of Supralabials.
• Preoculars: Entire
• Postoculars: Divided into three shields.
• Temporals: Divided into two smaller shields of which the lower one is larger.
• Supralabials: Nine pairs of which the first is smallest. The fourth, fifth and sixth pairs touch the eye and the fourth is often divided.
• Mental: Stereotype in form.
• Infralabials: Six pairs of which the first is elongated and meet behind the Mental shield. The next two pairs are small and the sixth pair is the largest.
• Anterior Sublinguals: Prominent and touch the first four pairs of Infralabials.
• Posterior Sublinguals: Separated by smaller scales and touch the fourth, fifth and sixth pairs of Infralabials.

• Costals: Vertebral row not enlarged. The last five rows become progressively larger until they culminate with the Ultimate row.
• Ventrals: 191 to 232
• Anal Shield: Divided
• Subcaudals: 72 to 92, divided.

Dentition:

• Maxillary: 14 to 15
• Palatine: 10 to 11
• Pterygoid: 15 to 16
• Mandibular: 17 to 18

Distribution: India and Sri Lanka

A rare snake found in the dry scrubland of the northern part of the island. Its range includes Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambulla and Puttalam.

References:

WALL, Frank: Snakes of Ceylon (1921)

Acknowledgements:

Photo from EMBL Reptile Database (Photographer on photo)