Order: Squamata

Family: Colubridae

 

Size:  Male- up to 90-100cm; Female- up to 120-130 cm in length.

 

Key Features: Fore body has chain like patterns which becomes plain on half of the posterior body.

 

Breeding: 2-6 clutches are produced each year with between 3-12 eggs in each clutch. Incubation typically takes 50-96 eggs at 26-29 degree celcius.

 

Diet: consists of, Mice, Rats, Birds, Lizards, Frogs, Snakes and hatchlings have been known to eat insects.

 

Habitat: Inhabiting the plains and foothills at altitudes between sea level and 900m. A preference for scrub areas at the edge of rain forests, rice fields, plantations and the edges of meadows; especially in the vicinity to water have been recorded.

 

Habits: Generally placid and shy.

 

Conservation Status: Not assessed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

 

 

 

 

 

References:

Coelognathus helena. In IndianSnakes.org , Retrieved on July 11, 2014 from http://www.indiansnakes.org/content/common-trinket

 

Coelognathus helena. In Rat Snake Foundation , Retrieved on July 11, 2014 from http://www.ratsnakefoundation.org/index.php/ratsnake-species/asian-ratsnakes/48-coelognathus-helena-helena

 

Photo Courtesy

AshLin,Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons