Distributed range & status
This snake species is endemic to Sri Lanka found in wet zone low country & mid country hills, dry zone plains including Knuckles, Nawala, Gampola, Kandy, Matugama, Kalutara, Gammaduwa, Ratnapaura, Weligala, Negombo, Kotmale.
Scales
rostral |
Broad scale |
frontal |
Length is same as the lateral scales |
supraoculars |
|
parietals |
|
prefrontals |
|
nasals |
divided |
internasals |
1 pair |
loreals |
|
preoculars |
1 |
postoculars |
2 |
temporals |
1+2 |
Supralabials |
7 (3 & 4 touches the eye) |
mental |
|
infralabials |
|
sublinguals |
|
coastals |
|
ventrals |
134-159 |
anal |
1 divided |
subcaudals |
23-39 divided |
There are 15 rows of mid body scales. Body scales are smooth.
Characteristics
Body is cylindrical, stout & short. Distinct neck is present with an oval shaped head. Blunt snout & nostrils are small. Rounded pupils contain in eyes. Tapering tail is present.
Colour
Dorsal body is pinkish light brown with small dark brown markings. 2 lateral rows of linear marks confluent & form stripes. Head & neck have dark markings. A dark line runs down from the eye. Median row of discontinuous spots ends at the ventral body. Ventral body is light pink or brown. Every scale of the ventral body contains 3 brown spots.
Venom
These snakes are non venomous.
Dentition
Sharp blade like, flattened teeth are present which are curved in side. An Indian tribe known as Gurkhas use knives named kukri & these snakes have similar shaped teeth.
Behavior
They are mainly are diurnal but also active at dusk, terrestrial occupying termitaria. These snakes may also be active in rainy nights. They are found under decaying leaves, trunks, heaps of stones & tree hollows. They inhabit forests & may even enter in to human habitats. When threatened they flatten the head show the yellow skin under the scales, but does not attack.
Breeding
They are oviparous snakes laying 2-3 eggs.
Growth
At birth 100mm & grow up to 200-300mm adult.
Food
The diet consists of small reptiles, lizards, insects & reptile & frog eggs.
Identification
Oligodon sublineatus differ from all other Oligodon spp. in having pink ventral scales with 3 dark brown dots on each scale.
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