THANE: A venomous spectacled cobra and a non-venomous checkered keelback snake were rescued in 24 hours. Checkered Keelback is a species capable of showing activity anytime. Along with the Checkered Keelback and the Red Sand Boa, the Indian Rat Snake is one of the most common snakes that show up in areas like Vasant Kunj … The checkered keelback (Fowlea piscator), also known commonly as the Asiatic water snake, is a common species of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The female guards the eggs until they hatch. Its temporals are 2+2 or 2+3. It is known to be aggressive and quick to bite as well as flattening its head and neck and rising up off the ground similar to the Red Neck Keelback. The keelback is a small non-venomous snake that rarely exceeds 75-80cm in length. When alarmed, it inflates its body causing the bright interscale colours to be exposed. A rare case of such autotomy is reported from Vietnam.[4]. DEFENSIVE BEHAVIOR IN THE INDIAN ROOFED TURTLE KACHUGA-TECTA GRAY. The family is notable for containing some of the very few colubrid snakes (particularly of the genus Rhabdophis) known to be dangerous to man. 12. He is the Director of the ‘Snake Park’ and ‘Rehabilitation Centre for Animals’, Pune. Checkered Keelback - Fowlea flavipunctatus, Donate here and help us continue our mission. The eyes consist of a round pupils. It is abundant during the rains. The species is endemic to Asia. Heat, or the warmth, is an imperative element for any living being's survival on this planet. The checkered keelback (Fowlea piscator), also known commonly as the Asiatic water snake, is a common speciessubfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. This was regardless of whether the keelbacks belonged to the above toad-sympatric populations or to the toad natïve populations. The ventrals number 125–158, the anal is divided, and the subcaudals number 64–90. Back of The Book Aminent herpetologist Neelimkumar Khaire has been closely associated with the study and conservation of snakes for over four decades. There are one preocular and three (rarely four) post-oculars. A short while later, another checkered keelback, who didn’t want to be left behind, started coming in to join the party. Wild: Essence to Sense. It was first discovered near the Nilgiris but is now known more widely from the Western Ghats. KEY ID FEATURES: Black checkered markings, tan to olive body with, black stripes behind eye, BEHAVIOR: Will bite readily, displays flattened neck when threatened, OTHER: Color variation within species can occur. Ges. Colours of Checkered Keelback Checkered Keelback or Asiatic Water Snake has the coloration which is very variable. naturf. Often they try to raise their head as much as possible and expand their neck skin mimicking a cobra hood and intimidate the threat. It was now beginning to get crowded. The checkered keelback (Fowlea piscator), also known commonly as the Asiatic water snake, is a common species of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. Its head is slightly pointed. This snake is terrestrial and feeds on toads. This is the disgusting moment a terrifying two-metre snake slowly swallows another one whole. Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Fowlea. This species hunts fish, frogs and occasionally toads as its favorite prey. Checkered keelback (Fowlea piscator) that was feeding on the eggs of a Malabar Gliding Frog (Rhacophorus malabaricus) within a foam nest. Generally tan to olive green with black checkering running the length of the body, lateral strips running back from the eyes with a 'V' shaped black line behind the head around the neck. 2004. IMPORTANT: Many snakes have significant variance in coloration and pattern even within the same species. To show its alertness and aggression this species expands much of its fore body to show false hood. Chart 1 - Nostrils directed slightly upwards, Chart 2 - Frontal constricted in the middle, twice as long as broad, Chart 3 - Internasals much narrowed anteriorly, nearly as long as the prefrontals, Chart 6 - 9 supralabials, 4th and 5th touching the eye, the 6th excluded by the lowest postocular, Gallery for identification characteristics, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Checkered_keelback&oldid=998603103, Taxa named by Johann Gottlob Theaenus Schneider, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Dutt, Kalma (1970). The Nilgiri keelback or Beddome's keelback (Hebius beddomei) is a species of snake found in the Western Ghats in India. Thermoregulatory Behavior of Embryos 447 Figure 1: Position of an embryo of the checkered keelback snake Xenochrophis piscator inside its egg, as observed by candling. Zweiter Nachtrag zum Katalog der herpetologischen Sammlung des Basler Museums [1881 printed on paper]. Hi Aayush, As stated By Mr. Avdhesh Malik, checkered keelback is a non-venomous but still an aggressive snake. To show alertness and aggression it inflates much of forebody to show a 'false hood'. Color morphs possible including colored markings on the sides. Minden Pictures is recognized worldwide as the foremost provider of wildlife and nature stock photography for use by publishing and advertising professionals. Checkered Keelback – Four is a crowd. Basel 7 (2): 166-174. It was first discovered near the Nilgiris but is now known more widely from the Western Ghats.This snake is terrestrial and feeds on toads Indian Wolf; Black Panther In north India, the striped keelback hibernates 25 to 45 cm (about 10 to 18 inches) under the ground in soil, amongst grass roots. Checkered Keelback is a species which shows its activity at any time of the day. However can be found during early morning & evening mostly. It expresses alertness and aggression by inflating its fore body to show false hood. Active during the night and day, the Checkered Keelback is relatively common in Hong Kong. 14. Checkered keelback water snake in the diet of Garden calotes. Black Friday Sale: 50% OFF . F. piscator is oviparous. Whitaker, R. and A. Captain. Most of the time this snake tries to raise its head as much as possible and expand its neck skin mimicking a cobra hood and intimidate the threat. NO SNAKE SHOULD EVER BE HANDLED BY ANYONE BUT EXPERTS: The Checkered Keelback is a unique snake in Hong Kong that is not easily mistaken for any other endemic species, but its neutral color tones mean it could possibly be mistaken for other neutral toned snakes. The shields to species status, as Fowlea melanzostus, by Indraneil Das in 1996 fields and.! 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