Sibynophis subpunctatus
Encyclopedia
Dumeril's black-headed snake (Sibynophis subpunctatus) is a species of snake found in India (Maharashtra (Pune district) ) and Sri Lanka
.
A species of non venomous snake found in India (Maharashtra (Pune (=Poona) district) ) and Sri Lanka.These snakes are active by the day as well as the night. Lives in leaf litter, preys on gecko
s, skink
s, and smaller snakes. Maximum size is 18 inches.
a little shorter than that between the prefrontals
; frontal longer than its distance from the end of the snout, as long as the parietals
or a little shorter; loreal
longer than deep; one preocular; two postoculars, both in contact with the parietal; temporals 1 (or 2) +2; 9 or 10 upper labials, fifth and sixth, or fourth, fifth, and sixth, entering the eye; eighth upper labial usually excluded from the labial margin, simulating a lower anterior temporal; 4 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, the first usually separated from its fellow by the mental; posterior chin-shields a little longer than the anterior. Dorsal scales in 17 rows. Ventrals 151-220 (240 according to Blanford); anal divided; subcaudals 47-76. Pale brown above, with a vertebral series of small round black spots; usually a more or less distinct dark lateral line or series of dots; head and nape dark brown or black; lips, canthus rostralis, a transverse line between the eyes, and two broad cross-bands, one in front and one behind the nape, yellow; the dark colour often extending along the median line, bisecting the yellow collar; lower surfaces yellow, each shield with a black dot near its outer border.
Sri Lankan specimens have 157 to 176 ventrals and 52-64 subcaudals.
and Sri Lanka
. Records from Mulshi
, Pune. Specimens from the Northeast of India are probably those of Sibynophis sagittarius
.
In Sri Lanak it is found mostly towards the west coast from Puttalam to Kalutara.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
A species of non venomous snake found in India (Maharashtra (Pune (=Poona) district) ) and Sri Lanka.These snakes are active by the day as well as the night. Lives in leaf litter, preys on gecko
Gecko
Geckos are lizards belonging to the infraorder Gekkota, found in warm climates throughout the world. They range from 1.6 cm to 60 cm....
s, skink
Skink
Skinks are lizards belonging to the family Scincidae. Together with several other lizard families, including Lacertidae , they comprise the superfamily or infraorder Scincomorpha...
s, and smaller snakes. Maximum size is 18 inches.
Description
Rostral scales nearly twice as broad as deep; suture between the internasalsSnake scales
Snakes, like other reptiles, have a skin covered in scales. Snakes are entirely covered with scales or scutes of various shapes and sizes. Scales protect the body of the snake, aid it in locomotion, allow moisture to be retained within, alter the surface characteristics such as roughness to aid in...
a little shorter than that between the prefrontals
Snake scales
Snakes, like other reptiles, have a skin covered in scales. Snakes are entirely covered with scales or scutes of various shapes and sizes. Scales protect the body of the snake, aid it in locomotion, allow moisture to be retained within, alter the surface characteristics such as roughness to aid in...
; frontal longer than its distance from the end of the snout, as long as the parietals
Snake scales
Snakes, like other reptiles, have a skin covered in scales. Snakes are entirely covered with scales or scutes of various shapes and sizes. Scales protect the body of the snake, aid it in locomotion, allow moisture to be retained within, alter the surface characteristics such as roughness to aid in...
or a little shorter; loreal
Snake scales
Snakes, like other reptiles, have a skin covered in scales. Snakes are entirely covered with scales or scutes of various shapes and sizes. Scales protect the body of the snake, aid it in locomotion, allow moisture to be retained within, alter the surface characteristics such as roughness to aid in...
longer than deep; one preocular; two postoculars, both in contact with the parietal; temporals 1 (or 2) +2; 9 or 10 upper labials, fifth and sixth, or fourth, fifth, and sixth, entering the eye; eighth upper labial usually excluded from the labial margin, simulating a lower anterior temporal; 4 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, the first usually separated from its fellow by the mental; posterior chin-shields a little longer than the anterior. Dorsal scales in 17 rows. Ventrals 151-220 (240 according to Blanford); anal divided; subcaudals 47-76. Pale brown above, with a vertebral series of small round black spots; usually a more or less distinct dark lateral line or series of dots; head and nape dark brown or black; lips, canthus rostralis, a transverse line between the eyes, and two broad cross-bands, one in front and one behind the nape, yellow; the dark colour often extending along the median line, bisecting the yellow collar; lower surfaces yellow, each shield with a black dot near its outer border.
Sri Lankan specimens have 157 to 176 ventrals and 52-64 subcaudals.
Distribution records
Found in the Western GhatsWestern Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Records from Mulshi
Mulshi
Mulshi can refer to:*Mulshi Dam, a major dam on the Mula river located in Pune district of Maharashtra State, India*Mulshi taluka, a Taluka, or administrative division, of the Pune district of Maharashtra State, India...
, Pune. Specimens from the Northeast of India are probably those of Sibynophis sagittarius
Sibynophis sagittarius
Sibynophis sagittarius is a species of snake found in C/NE India, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan.-References:* Cantor, T. 1839 Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1839: 49....
.
In Sri Lanak it is found mostly towards the west coast from Puttalam to Kalutara.
Other references
- Duméril, A.M.C., G. Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril 1854 Erpétologie générale ou Histoire Naturelle complète des Reptiles. Vol. 7 (partie 1). Paris, xvi + 780 S.
- Sharma, Satish Kumar 1998 Range extension of the Dumeril's black-headed snake Sibynophis subpunctatus (Dum. & Bibr., 1854) Cobra 32: 32-33
- Vyas, Raju 1986 Extension of the range of Dumeril's black headed snake (Sibynophis subpunctatus). Hamadryad 11 (3): 24