Lycodon carinatus

Sri Lankan Wolf Snake
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Sauropsida
Subclass:	Diapsida
Infraclass:	Lepidosauromorpha
Superorder:	Lepidosauria
Order:	Squamata
Infraorder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Lycodon
Species:	L. carinatus
Binomial name
*Lycodon carinatus* Kuhl,1820

Lycodon carianatus is a snake of the Colubridae family. It is endemic to island of Sri Lanka. The snake is commonly known as Sri Lankan Wolf Snake, and as දාර කරවලා (Daara Karawala) or දාර රදනකයා (daara radanakayaa) in Sinhala.

Destribution

A nocturnal snake mainly confined to the lowland and submontane forests of the wet zone, it may occasionally be found within human habitations.

Description

Dorsal side black with 19 distinct white rings. These may be reduced or completely absent in adults. Black bands extend to venter, but are fairly diffuse.

Scalation

Scales are keeled and dull in appearance. Midbody scale rows 17-19. Ventrals 180-202. Subcaudals entire 42-64.

Ecology

Nocturnal and terrestrial, hiding under rubble in forests during the day. Diet comprises frogs, geckos, skinks and small non-venomous snakes. When disturbed, it coils itself into a ball and hides its head underneath the coils.

Reproduction

Oviparous. Produce 4 to 7 eggs.

Mimicry

Apparently a mimic of the highly venomous Indian krait.

Taxonomy Updates

This species has been shifted to the genus Lycodon in 2013 (PYRON et al. 2013) from previously known genus Cercaspis