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Synonymy: Formerly described as Coluber helena until renamed in 1943 (Smith)	Sub Species: Elaphe helena helena DAUDIN 1803 Elaphe helena monticollaris SHULZ 1992

Characteristics: A narrow headed slender snake with a beautiful colouration. Its light brown body is often adorned with white and dark brown spots (E.h.helena) or with black and white transverse stripes (E.h.monticollaris). Its head is greenish brown with black markings. However the true purpose of this colouration is camoufladge. Its specie name is derived from the legendary Greek queen Helen.

Behaviour: Diurnal and highly active. Has a very nasty temper and will strike repeatedly if molested. Never appreciates captivity and will resist capture with utmost tenacity until helplessly overpowered. Its bites are often very damaging due to its inward pointing teeth. Food: Feeds mainly on small mammals. It uses its camouflage to stalk its prey and initially disorients its victim with a blitz strike. It then surrounds its prey with its coils and weakens it by biting repeatedly. The victim is finally killed by constriction and swallowed at leisure. It may also prey upon birds, frogs, lizards and other snakes as well but shows a high preference towards small mammals. It is notorious for its voracious appetite. Captive specimens prefer mice and tend to loose interest in lizards especially if they remain motionless.

Breeding: Very little known about its reproductive habits. Probably viviparous. Brood size unknown.

Growth: The smallest known specimens measure around 350mm. The average adult length is around 100cm and 150cm the maximum. Females are longer than the males while males have proportionately longer tails.

Venom: Non venomous this snake kills by constriction.

Identification: The following characteristics should be noted

• Nine pairs of Supralabials of which the fifth and sixth pairs touch the eye.
• 19 to 21 rows of Costals two head lengths before the vent.
• Entire Anal shield
• Nearly equally sized Frontal and Parietal shields.

Lepidosis:

• Rostral: Compressed and touches six shields.
• Frontal: Relatively thin and elongated.
• Supraoculars: Slender and elongated being nearly as long as the Frontal.
• Parietals: Each individual shield is slightly larter than the Frontal.
• Prefrontals: Highly broad as well as long.
• Internasals: Touch the nostrils.
• Nasals: Divided along a vertical line on which the nostril is situated.
• Loreals: Entire
• Preoculars: Entire
• Postoculars: Divided into two equally sized shields
• Temporals: Divided into two equally sized elongated shields.
• Supralabials: Nine pairs of which the fifth and sixth pairs touch the eye.
• Mental: Stereotype in form.
• Infralabials: Six pairs of which the sixth is the largest.
• Sublinguals: Anterioir and Posterior pairs equal in size and the Posterior pair is separated by smaller scales.

• Costals: Only the Ultimate row is enlarged.
• Ventrals: 217 to 265
• Anal Shield: Entire
• Subcaudals: 74 to 97, divided

Dentition: Maxillary: 19 to 25 Palatine: 10 to 14 Pterygoid: 15 to 30 Mandibular: 22 to 30 Habitat: Prefers forests but may frequently venture towards human habitation and occasionally enter human dwellings.

An adult specimen sloughing

Distribution: Mainly India and Sri Lanka . Also found in Nepal, Pakistan (Sind) and Bangladesh

Fairly common in the central hills of the island above 800m. Rarely recorded in the plains.

References:

WALL, Frank: Snakes of Ceylon (1921)

Acknowledgements:

Photographs from EMBL Reptile Database (Photographer on photos)