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Indian Grass Snake
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Green Keelback or Grass Snake (Macropisthodon plumbicolor)
Labels: Green Keelback Snake, Lead Keelback
Binomial name: Macropisthodon plumbicolor
Common Name: Green Keelback
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Macropisthodon
Species: M. plumbicolor
Type: HARMLESS
Distinguishing Features: Medium-sized; keel-scaled; grass-green coloured; flattens neck into ‘hood’ with distinct ‘V’ mark when aggravated.
Average Length: 55 cm; At Birth: 7.5 cm; Maximum: 80 cm.
Description: Green Keelback’s overall colour is bright green with imprecise and irregular black cross lines. The head and neck bear a fairly clear ‘V’ mark which becomes part of the ‘hood’ design when the snake is provoked. The skin is slightly glossy and strongly keeled. The head is wide and eyes are large, round-pupilled. Their underside is greyish-white.
Distribution: They are found in the forests of India, up to 1500 m above sea level.
Habitat: They find shelter chiefly on the hills and plateaus, in dense evergreen as well as open deciduous forests.
Habits: Not much is known about the habits of this snake. When frightened, they freeze into ‘S’s as most of the snakes do. In deposition, it is gentle and inoffensive.
Young: The female lays around 12 eggs. The young are brightly coloured with black bands and speckled markings on their body up to 8 months or even a year. Their neck markings are also conspicuous.
Food: They favour toads to all other prey. Their long rear teeth in the roof of the mouth facilitate easycatching of the prey.
Status: Green Keelbacks are not a very commonly found species, although they are widely distributed. But with rapid deforestation, their preferred forest habitat is apparently disappearing |
Argus, CeltickRanger, brech has marked this note useful
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- Argus
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(50626) - [2011-04-03 8:13]
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Hello Subhash,
A fine capture of the Indian Grass Snake. The POV is excellent and taken with good clarity with a superb contrast against the brown forest floor. I have not seen this species featured on TN before.
This deserves more attention!
Thanks and kind regards,
Ivan
Hello Subhash
Welcome back among us to TN, an excellent close-up
photo of the Indian Grass Snake shot with fine
frontal POV, beautiful light, excellent contrast,
excellent focus sharpness and details, TFS
Asbed
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- Nilson
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 488 W: 0 N: 566]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(4423) - [2011-04-03 10:16]
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Bela foto de qualidade exelente muito bem focalizada parabéns.
Nilson
Very special colour I have seen in some snakes in my home state of Ohio. You caught it coiled nicely good Dr! BTW my general is coming back to America. So his son tells me but he has not purchased a ticket. Anyway...a fine image and well worthy of TN!
Bon
