Showing posts with label Natricidae. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Natricidae. Show all posts

Monday, November 27, 2023

Olive Keelback/දිය වර්ණයා/කඩොලා [Diya warnaya/Kadola] (Atretium schistosum)

 A non-venomous aquatic snake inhabiting damp places near water bodies such as streams, ponds, wells, paddy fields as well as brackish habitats of mangroves and lagoons from lowlands to about 1000m elevations. It active during the day time and feeds mainly on frogs and fish. Also takes tadpole, aquatic insects, mosquito larva and crabs and other crustaceans. Olive Keelback is a good swimmer and diver which also climbs low bushes near water. It is an oviparous snake breeding during the rainy season from December to April. It lays 10 - 30 eggs inside crevices, under logs or in leaf litter among stones near water. 

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

දිය නයා/දියබරියා[Diya Naya/Diyabariya]/Checkered Keelback (Xenochrophis piscator)

A non-venomous, semi-aquatic snake inhabiting streams, rivers, paddy fields, tanks, marshes etc. from lowlands up to about 1200m elevations in the hills. Mainly a diurnal snake though sometime active even during the night. It feeds mainly on frogs and fish. 

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Blossom krait/මල් කරවලා/නිහාළුවා [Mal karavala/Nihaluva] (Balanophis ceylonensis)

Blossom krait is a rear-fanged mildly venomous terrestrial snake found among leaf litter in forests of low country to central hills.  Also occurs in knuckles range. It feeds on frogs, skinks, and insects. Blossom krait is rather uncommon snake endemic to the Sri Lanka . 

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Common Rough-side/දලව මැඩිල්ලා[Dalavamadilla] (Aspidura trachyprocta)

Common Rough-side is a non-venomous, nocturnal and subfossorial snake known from mid hills to higher hills (750 - 2100m a.s.l). It feeds mainly on earth worms and grubs. Common in Horton plains national park.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Sri Lankan Keelback/දියබරියා[Diya Bariya] (Xenochrophis asperrimus)

An  endemic and common water snake of both dry and wet zone up to 1000m a.s.l.  Found in rice fields, tanks, marshes, rivers and streams. It is active in water bodies both by day and during night in search of its prey which consist mainly of fish and frogs.  It can be easily identified by having about 20 dark spots or bars of its first half of the body and two dark lines behind eye.