Dumeril's Black-headed Snake
NON VENOMOUS
Sibynophis subpunctatus
Grown-ups 250mm (10in) Maximum 460mm (18in)
Depiction
Slim-bodied, smooth-scaled. Head slightly broader than neck; eye has round pupil. Tail long, gradually tapering, without black rings. Body and tail brown above, with a series of tiny black dots that run along the midback. Sides of body often gray, separated from brown back, by a dark line or dark spots. Specimens from Maharashtra have reddish brown forebody: paler brown hind body and tail. Head black with white or pale yellow markings. Neck has white collar. Underside greenish-yellow; belly scales with a black dot on each side. Often confused with the venomous Slender Coral Snake (which has a coral red belly and two distinct black rings on its very short tail).
Scalation/Dentition
Scales in 17 : 17: 17 lines, smooth. Ventrals: 151-200 (India south of scope 14°: Sri Lanka), 172-215 (India north of lat. 18°, Matheran, Nasik area, Central India, Bengal); butt-centric scale separated; subcaudals: guys 60-76, females 54-63, matched. Supralabials 9 (4h to 6 contacting eye), infrequently 8 (3 to fifth contacting eye); preocular 1; postoculars 2; foremost temporals 2; parietal contacts both postoculars. Maxillary teeth 42-48.
Normal History/Behavior
Dynamic by day and night. Earthbound. Lives in leaf litter, has been found under stones and logs. Goes after geckos, skinks and more modest snakes. Lays 2-5 eggs.
Dispersion
Peninsular India: (degree not exactly known) south of Rajasthan and south of the Ganges Valley. Likewise Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Carbon copies
Slim Coral Snake. Other black headed snakes.
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