Macrophistodon plumbicolor

Taxobox | name = Lead Keelback

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regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Reptilia
ordo = Squamata
subordo = Serpentes
familia = Colubridae
genus = "Macropisthodon"
species = "M. plumbicolor"
binomial = "Macropisthodon plumbicolor"
binomial_authority = (Cantor, 1839)

The Green Keelback, "Macropisthodon plumbicolor" also called the Lead Keelback is a species of snake found in parts of Asia.

Description

:"See snake scales for terminology used"Stout and viper like in structure of body. Eye moderate; rostral just visible from above ; suture between the internasals as long as that between the praefrontals or a little shorter ; frontal as long as its distance from the end of the snout or a little longer, as long as the parietals or a little shorter ; loreal as long as deep or deeper, sometimes entering the eye ; two praeoculars, three or four postoculars ; temporals 2 + 3 or 4; upper labials 7, third and fourth entering the eye ; 4 or 5 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are shorter than the posterior. Scales strongly keeled, in 23 to 27 rows. Ventrals 144-160 ; anal usually divided; subcaudals 35-50. Dull green above, uniform or with traces of black markings ; young with a large chevron-shaped black mark on the nape and occiput, the point on the frontal shield bordered posteriorly with bright yellow ; a black band from the eye to the angle of the mouth, and more or less regular transverse black spots or bands on the body ; belly blackish, or yellowish with or without brown spots.Boulenger, George A. 1890 The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. Taylor & Francis, London, xviii, 541 pp.]

Young specimens show an inverted black V-mark on the neck, its apex forwards, reaching to the frontal shield, and a second much smaller one behind, the intervening space being bright yellow or orange; a black stripe from the eye to the angle of the month, and more or less regular transverse spots or cross-bars on the back and tail; belly whitish, yellow or plumbeous, rarely with darkish spots. With age the black markings entirely disappear. In disposition the snake is very gentle and in threat may flatten the neck and raise the head like a cobra while other specimens may flatten the entire body on the ground. Feeds mainly on toads.Smith, M. A. 1941. Fauna of British India. Reptilia and Batrachia. p.315-316]

About 2 feet long when fully grown.Found in peninsular India and Sri Lanka especially on the higher rather than on the plains. A large specimen was found at an altitude of 4700 feet, in the Anaimalai Hills by Mr. W. Davison.

Notes

References

* Cantor, T. E. 1839 Spicilegium serpentium indicorum [parts 1 and 2] . Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 7: 31-34, 49-55.
* Jerdon, T.C. 1853 Catalogue of the Reptiles inhabiting the Peninsula of India. Part 2. J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal xxii: 522-534 [1853]

External links

* [http://veera.bizhat.com/science/snakes/keelbacks/macropisthodon.html Green Keelback]
* http://itgmv1.fzk.de/www/itg/uetz/herp/photos/Macropisthodon_plumbicolor.jpg