sign in sign up
<<
Home , Buff striped keelback, Striped keelback

Parishodh Journal ISSN NO:2347-6648

Study of “Socio-Physiological” behavior of Buff Striped Keelback .

Kumari Ranjana B.N.Mandal University Madhupura Abstract

Buff-striped Keelbacks (Amphiesma stolatum; Fig. 1) are nonvenomous, oviparous natricids that are widely distributed in , , , , , and (Whitaker and Captain 2008), where they occur in a variety of natural and altered habitats that include fields, grasslands, cultivated areas, scrub, and gardens, usually in the vicinity of water (Daniel 1983; Whitaker and Captain 2008). These are among the most abundant in the state of Gujarat (Desai 2017). Although common, they are encountered most frequently during monsoon seasons because they hibernate in the winter and aestivate in the summer (Daniel 1983; Whitaker and Captain 2008; Parmar and Tank 2019); consequently, opportunities to obtain gravid females or eggs are rare. Reports of clutch sizes and lengths of hatchlings vary. Daniel (1983) stated that clutch sizes are 1–14 and hatchlings measure 133–177 mm. Whitaker and Captain (2008) stated that 5–15 eggs are laid at a time and hatchlings measure 90–170 mm. Desai (2017) listed clutch sizes of 5 to 10 and that hatchlings are as long as 177 mm Buff- striped Keelbacks in Gujarat have been observed mating in August (Desa¯i 2017). In fact, on 27 August 2010, we rescued two males (total lengths 533 and 488 mm) attempting to mate with a single female (total length 732 mm) from the Citylight Area in Surat. The snakes continued mating for two hours during and after transport to the res-cue center (Fig. 2). However, another female rescued in the Piplod Area of Surat laid five oval chalky- white eggs on 28 July 2009, indicating that mating had occurred much earlier in the year than had been reported. We immediately released the female into natural habitat. We then marked and measured the eggs (in order of deposi-tion: 19.0 x 10.0 mm, 1.23 g; 19.0 x 10.3 mm, 1.24 g; 17.0 x 8.0 mm, 1.02 g; 18.9 x 10.0 mm, 1.05 g; 16.4 x 8.9 mm, 0.76 g) before placing them in a pot filled with a 170-mm deep layer of mud sprinkled with water and covered with a wet cloth to maintain moisture and humidity. We moistened the cloth cover every day and, every three days, we sprinkled water on the substrate. Weather varied during incubation and temperatures fluctuated from a minimum of 26 °C to a maximum of 33 °C (Table 1). The smallest egg was infertile and two others were infected by fungi. After 49 days of incubation, on 15 September 2009, hatchlings (Fig. 3) emerged from the final two eggs. Both were females. Snout-vent lengths were 110.3 and 112.8 mm, tail lengths 32.8 and34.2 mm, and midbody girths 18 and 20 mm, respectively. Keywords:

Cattle grazing, Alnus tenuinolia, Scolecophidia

Volume IX, Issue I, January/2020 Page No:637 Parishodh Journal ISSN NO:2347-6648

INTRODUCTION

The buff striped kill back (amphiesma stolatum) of nonvenomous colubrid snake found across . It is the sole species of genus Amphiesma. It is a typically nonaggressive snake that feeds on and . It belongs to the subfamily , and is closely related to water snakes and grass snakes. It resembles an Asian version of the American . It is quite a common snake but is rarely seen. Many snakes have significant variance in coloration and pattern even within the same species. There can also be extreme differences in appearance from juveniles to adults so it is important to never assume you have properly identified a snake. With a distinct copper orange colored neck the Buff-striped Keelback is a relatively easy snake to identify and is not easily confused with other species in . Generally tan to light olive green with black and white to blue checkering running the length of the body and with lateral strips on the tail, both juvenile and mature specimens exhibit the same colors and patterning with the juveniles showing brighter more defined colors. Usually found in grass lands or villages near water, rice fields and other slow moving/still bodies of water. This species hunts frogs and toads as its favorite prey. Buff-striped Keelbacks are found on Lantau and in the New Territories but are small in number due to habitat loss. OBSERVATION The buff striped keelback is diurnal, and although mostly seen on land, it can readily take to water. It has long rear teeth for catching frogs and toads. The buff striped keelback is nonvenomous and totally harmless. When alarmed, it inflates its body causing the bright interscale colours to be exposed. Sometimes, the snake flattens and narrows its head to form a hood. This behaviour sometimes causes the species to be mistaken by laypersons for a baby .The snake aestivates during hot weather and appears at the end of summer. It is abundant during the rains. In north India, the striped keelback hibernates 25 to 45 cm (about 10 to 18 inches) under the ground in soil, amongst grass roots.Habitat This terrestrial, diurnal snake inhabits well- watered lowland plains and hills The primary diet of adult A. stolatum is small such as frogs and toads, but they are also known to consume , earthworms and geckos. Keelbacks are oviparous. Mating is thought to take place during the aestivation period. Gravid females have been found from April to August and eggs are laid in underground holes from May to September. The snake lays a clutch of 5 to 10 pure white eggs. Females remain with eggs till they hatch. The young snakes are 13 to 17 cm at birth and eat small frogs, tadpoles, fish, earthworms and . A small, slender snake, the buff striped keelback is generally olive-brown to gray in colour. The head and the body are of the same colour. The body of the buff striped keelback is short, and it has a long slender tail which is almost a quarter of its length. Two yellow stripes along the length and to the sides of the spine are the distinctive feature of this snake. These stripes are diffuse at the head and are especially bright on the second half of its body. The keelback has irregular blackish crossbars on the body. Near the head the crossbars are prominent, whereas on the second half of the snake they become diffuse. There are two distinct colour varieties – a typical variety, found everywhere, with grayish-blue interscale colour. The second variety, erythrostictus, is common mainly in coastal areas and has bright vermillion interscale colour. The interscale colours become visible only when the snake puffs itself up when agitated.

Volume IX, Issue I, January/2020 Page No:638 Parishodh Journal ISSN NO:2347-6648

ANALYSIS AND REMARK

Identifying characteristics

A closeup of head The nasal shield does not touch the second supralabial (upper lip shield). The rostral touches a total of 6 shields. These are two inter-nasals, two nasals and the first supralabial on each side. Presence of single temporal shield. Nineteen rows of costals which are strongly keeled except for the outer row which is perfectly smooth. Presence of stripes. Ventrals 125-161. Anal divided. Subcaudals 50-85

The Buff Striped keelback is usually 40 to 50 cm (about 16 to 20 inches) in total length. The maximum length recorded is 90 cm (35 3⁄8 in). Females are consistently longer than the males which only rarely reach 620 mm (2.03 ft) in length. The buff striped keelback is found throughout South and . Its range extends from Pakistan () to Sri Lanka, , India (including the ), Bangladesh, Nepal, , , , , , (, ), and (, Hong Kong, , ). In India, the snake is found up to an altitude of 3,000 feet (910 m).

Bihar - Harhara Assamese – Bamuni saap. Odia – Halahalia saapa, Mati biradi Saapa,Angul,Jajpur, Bramhani,Sambalpuri Language) . Bengali –Bamuni Dhora shap,Bamuni shap,Hele shap,Ghorkuno shap,Ghenti shap. North Bengal-Ghenti shap Gujarati -kankaasiyu,kekariyu Marathi – Naneti. Telugu – Wannapam. Tamil – Nirkatan pambu. Tulu – Pageley. Konkani – Raktamandol. Sinhala – Aharakukka. Chhattisgadhi - "Pirpitti Saanp". Sambalpur -" Bamhani

Volume IX, Issue I, January/2020 Page No:639 Parishodh Journal ISSN NO:2347-6648

REFERENCE

Boulenger, George A. 1890. The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, Printers). London. xviii + 541 pp. (Tropidonotus stolatus, pp. 348–349.) Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families...Colubridæ Aglyphæ, Part. Trustees of 448 pp. + Plates I.-XXVIII. (Tropidonotus stolatus, pp. 253–254.) Cox, Merel J.; Van Dijk, Peter Paul; Jarujin Nabhitabhata & Thirakhupt, Kumthorn. 1998. A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Ralph Curtis Publishing. Sanibel Island, Florida. 144 pp. Daniels, J.C. 2002. Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. BNHS. Oxford University Press. Mumbai. Das, I. 1999. Biogeography of the amphibians and reptiles of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. In: Ota, H. (ed) Tropical Island herpetofauna. Elsevier, pp. 43–77. Das, I. 2002. A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of India. Ralph Curtis Books. Sanibel Island, Florida. 144 pp. ISBN 0-88359-056-5. (Amphiesma stolatum, p. 19.) Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae. 10th Edition: 204 pp. Wall, Frank. 1921. Ophidia Taprobanica or the Snakes of Ceylon. Colombo Museum. (H.R. Cottle, government printer). Colombo. xxii + 581 pp. Whitaker, Romulus. 2006. Common Indian Snakes - A Field Guide. Revised edition. MacMillan India Ltd. New Delhi.

Volume IX, Issue I, January/2020 Page No:640