- Oligodon arnensis
-
Common kukri snake 
Common Kukri from Bangalore, India Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Colubridae Genus: Oligodon Species: O. arnensis Binomial name Oligodon arnensis
(Shaw, 1802)Synonyms Simotes arnensis
Common kukri snake or Banded kukri Oligodon arnensis is a species of nonvenomous snake found in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Nepal.
Description
- See snake scales for terms used
The following description is from Boulenger (1890) and Smith (1943).
Nasal divided; portion of rostral seen from above as long as its distance from the frontal or a little shorter; suture between the internasals usually nearly as long as that between the prefrontals; frontal as long as its distance from the end of the snout or a little shorter, and a little shorter than the parietals; loreal, if distinct, longer than deep, frequently united with the prefrontal; preocular single; two postoculars; temporals 1+2; upper labials 7, third and fourth entering the eye; 4 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields; posterior chin-shields one half or two thirds the length of the anterior. Scales in 17 rows. Ventrals angulate laterally, 170-202; anal divided; subcaudals 41-59. Pale brown or orange above, with well-defined black cross-bands, which vary in number and in width according to individuals, and may be edged with white; an angular or transverse black band between the eyes, another behind, with the apex on the frontal, and a third on the nape. Lower surface uniform yellowish, rarely spotted with brown or with a brown posterior border to the ventrals.(Smith, 1943:p. 226)
Total length 24 inches; tail 3.5 inches. (female 640mm, tail 100mm)
Habitat: India and Ceylon, northwards to Nepal and the Himalayas, where it has been recorded from an altitude of 4100 feet.
References
- Boulenger, George A. 1890 The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. Taylor & Francis, London, xviii, 541 pp.
- Shaw, G. 1802 General Zoology, or Systematic Natural History. Vol.3, part 1 + 2. G. Kearsley, Thomas Davison, London: 313-615
- Smith, M.A. 1943 The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-Region. Reptilia and Amphibia. 3 (Serpentes). Taylor and Francis, London. 583 pp.
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