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A snake with a very controversial history indeed. It was originally described as a variety of Tropidonotus chrysargus by Gunther in 1858 and upgraded to full specie status by him in 1864 (Tropidonotus ceylonensis). In Wall's "Snakes of Ceylon" it was listed as Amphiesma ceylonensis (Ceylon Keelback) and subsequently remamed Rhabdophis ceylonensis by him in 1921. It was redescribed under its current name by Smith 1943 and Harding and Welch 1980.

Characteristics: A beautiful snake with a lively scarlet colouration. It has a brown dorsal stripe and thick black longtitudal stripes with a white underbelly. Its eyes are very large and has a stout cylindrical body with a thick short tail.

Behaviour: A largely terrestrial snake seldom venturing onto trees. It is gentle and inoffensive making no attempt to bite when harressed. If subjected to sudden shock will lie down and stretch itself revealing its scarlet colouration.

Food: Little known probably feeds on small leaf litter fauna such as grubs, worms and slugs.

Breeding: Very little known about its reproductive habits. It is oviparous and lays around 2 to 4 eggs in a single clutch. The eggs are quite large for a small snake and measure 40mmx12mm.

Growth: Upon hatching the young measure 160mm. These hatchlings grow to a maximum length of around 460mm.

Venom: Non Venomous

Identification: The following features will suffice to identify this species

• 19 rows of Costals two head lengths behind the head
• 19 rows at the midbody
• 17 rows two head lengths before the vent
• Preocular shields divided into two.

Lepidosis:

• Preoculars: Divided into two.
• Temporals: Divided into two of which the lower one is as long as the Supraoculars.
• Supralabials: Eight pairs of which the fourth and fifth pairs touch the eye.
• Infralabials: Six pairs.
• Costals: Keeled
• Ventrals: 131 to 141
• Anal: Divided
• Subcaudals: 48 to 54

Denitition:

• Maxilliary: 26 to 28, the last two are larger and point inwards
• Palatine: 20
• Pterygoid: 30 to 31
• Mandibular: 32 to 34

Distribution: Endemic to Sri lanka

A rare snake confined to rainforests of the Central Hills. Has been recorded from Peradeniya, Balangoda, Udugama, Yatiyantota and Uva.

References:

WALL, Frank: Snakes of Ceylon (1921)

Acknowledgements:

Photo from www.4wch.com/lanka/wildlife/herps.htm (Photographer unknown)