Kingdom Animalia Subphylum Vertebrata Order Squamata Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Suborder Serpentes | |
Similar Oligodon brevicauda, Western kukri, Lycodon carinatus, Aspidura trachyprocta, Oligodon dorsalis | ||
The Templeton's kukri snake or reed-like kukri, Oligodon arnensis, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid endemic to Sri Lanka. It is known as කබර දත්-කැටියා (kabara dath ketiya) in Sinhala.
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Description
A terrestrial snake from lowlands of the wet zone, reaching montane limits, up to 1800m. Head is short, scarcely distinct from neck. Eyes with round pupils. Dorsum light brown with a light vertebral stripe. 18–24 narrow dark brown, light-edged cross-bands that are either complete or half-way cross back. Venter cream, with square black markings. Forehead with a dark crescentric marking and an elongated spot behind it.
Distribution
Known from Udugama, in the Southern Province. Hewissa, and Mathugama in the Western Province, Ratnapura and Balangoda in the Sabaragamuwa Province, Peradeniya in Central Province.