Twin-spotted wolf snake (Lycodon jara) | Snake | Wildkeeda

Twin-spotted wolf snake (Lycodon jara) | Snake | Wildkeeda

 Twin-spotted wolf snake

 Lycodon jara (Shaw, 1802)

NON VENOMOUS

Length : 650mm

Description

Body slender, snout flat, not projecting beyond the lower jaw; head slightly distinct; scales smooth, tail short and pointed.

Greenish, brownish or purplish black above, spotted all over with yellow small spots, two on each scale; upper lip and lower surface uniform white; a white or yellow collar always present in the young,

Scalation

Scales in 17 : 17 : 15 rows, smooth. Ventrals 167-188, not angulate laterally: anal divided; subcaudals 52-74, paired. Loreal 1, touches internasal, preocular 1: postoculars 2; temporals 1+2 or 2+3; supralabials 8 or 9 (3 to 5 touching eye).

Habitat

Nocturnal; lives in open fields, shrub forest and grass land. This species is not aggressive like Common wolf snake and never attempt to bite even in first handling. 2- 8 eggs are laid during August September. Diet: geckos and other small lizards.

Distribution

Odisha Sighted near Barhakamuda, Jashipur and Chahala; also found in Balasore, Cuttack Khurdha, Nayagarh and Ganjam districts. Elsewhere in India: Eastern Himalayas, Northeastern India, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Assam. Elsewhere outside: Bangladesh and Nepal.

Look-alikes

Other wolf snakes. Kraits