Graceful Racer

Platyceps gracilis

Description 2

INTRODUCTION

  • Non Venomous
  • Also called : Slender Racer, Gunther's Racer.
  • Very fast moving and slender snakes. Rarely seen.

IDENTIFICATION

  • Slender body with smooth scales and yellowish belly with dark patches on the edge.
  • Dark grayish brown dorsal color and become faint towards posterior.
  • Light creamy round edged bands with black margins from behind neck, bands reduce to black patches towards tail.
  • Head with arrowhead pattern & darker stripe joining eyes. Have large round pupils appearing to protrude.
  • Confused with Sharma's racer and Russell's Kukri. Grow to 2-3 feet on average.

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

  • Dry parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh.
  • Inhabit arid and dry forests, scrub and semi-deserts with low rainfall.
  • Hide under and between boulders and dense bushes.

DIET AND BEHAVIOR

  • Feed on geckos and small rodents..
  • Diurnal activity and is mainly terrestrial.
  • Alert and quick to flee. Restless, but non-offensive when handled.

Other Platyceps 2

Apart from Sharma's Racer(Southern India) & Graceful Racer(NW India), India only has one other species of Platyceps.

  • Glossy Bellied Racer (Platyceps ventromaculatus) : Dry parts of Northwest India. Creamy dorsal with darker bands.

Fontes e Créditos

  1. (c) Vinay Gogula, todos os direitos reservados, uploaded by Vinay Gogula
  2. (c) Vinay Gogula, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA)

Mais informações

BioDiversity4All Mapa

Toxicity Non-Venomous