Order: Squamata

Family: Colubridae

 

Size:  up to 120 cm in length.

 

Key Features: Coloration is very variable, consisting of dark spots arranged quincuncially and often separated by a whitish network, or of black longitudinal bands on a pale ground, or of dark cross bands, with or without whitish spots. Two oblique black streaks, one below and the other behind the eye, are nearly constant, lower parts white, with or without black margins to the shields.

 

Breeding: Mating is from winter starting to middle of summer. Female lay up to 90 eggs in dry and moist place. Maximum hatchlings observe during late June to July.

 

Diet: feeds mainly on small fish and water frogs.

 

Habitat: found in or near freshwater lakes or rivers.

 

Habits: Activity both diurnal and nocturnal. Behaviour is very alert, active and aggressive. On threatening rise its forebody and stretch it in fake hood manner. Give painful bite by deep wounds.

 

Conservation Status: Least Concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

 

 

 

 

 

References:

Xenochrophis piscator. In IndianSnakes.org , Retrieved on July 11, 2014 from http://www.indiansnakes.org/content/checkered-keelback

 

IUCN Red List. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/191986/0

 

Xenochrophis piscator. In Snakes of Taiwan , Retrieved on July 11, 2014 from http://www.snakesoftaiwan.com/Xenochrophis%20piscator/species_xenochrophis_piscator.htm

 

Photo Courtesy

Jeevan Jose, Kerala, India, Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Checkered Keelback (Xenochrophis piscator)