Split Keelback
Atretium schistosum
Description 3
INTRODUCTION
- Non Venomous
- Other names : Olive Keelback
- Among the Natricine snakes or Keelbacks.
IDENTIFICATION
- Small, robust snake with thin head, large round pupils and keeled scales but look smooth.
- Olive-green dorsal, sometimes brownish. Yellow underside. Often have reddish line along side.
- Confused with the Olive Trapezoid Snake (WG) & Rainbow Mud Snake.
- Grow to 1-2 feet on average.
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT
- Throughout peninsular India and absent in the North.
- Generally uncommon but common in parts of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu.
- Found near ponds, wetlands, swamps and paddy fields. Not moving water.
- Usually seen in monsoon, hide in dense vegetation and holes near still water.
DIET AND BEHAVIOR
- Feed primarily on toads, frogs and fish.
- Diurnal and known to aestivate during summer.
- Non-offensive and gentle, tries to escape. Rarely tries to bite.
Other Keelbacks 3
Two other species of Natricine snakes found in the peninsula, both endemic to the Western Ghats.
- Nilgiri Keelback (Hebius beddomei)
- Wynad Keelback (Hebius monticola)
Fontes e Créditos
- (c) Kamalnv, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OliveKeelback.jpg
- (c) Vinay Gogula, todos os direitos reservados, uploaded by Vinay Gogula
- (c) Vinay Gogula, alguns direitos reservados (CC BY-SA)
Mais informações
BioDiversity4All Mapa
| Toxicity | Non-Venomous |
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