Kingdom Animalia Class Reptilia Family Colubridae Scientific name Sibynophis sagittarius Rank Species | Subphylum Vertebrata Suborder Serpentes Subfamily Sibynophiinae Phylum Chordata Order Scaled reptiles | |
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Similar Sibynophis, Sibynophis subpunctatus, Scaled reptiles, Sibynophiinae, Painted keelback | ||
Sibynophis sagittarius, commonly known as Cantor's black-headed snake, is a species of snake endemic to South Asia.
Contents
Geographic range
It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, central and northeastern India, Nepal, and Pakistan.
Description
Adults may attain 28 cm (11 inches) in total length, with a tail 6 cm (2⅜ inches) long.
As the common name implies, the dorsal surface of the head, including the nape of the neck, is black or dark brown, followed by a thin yellow nuchal collar. Also, there are two large elongate yellowish spots, one on each side of the back of the head. The upper surface of the body is pale brown, and the sides of the body are darker brown or gray. On each flank there is a thin black stripe separating the differently colored areas. A series of small black dots, widely separated, run down the vertebral row of dorsal scales. The underside is yellow, with a black dot at each outer end of every ventral.
The smooth dorsal scales, which lack apical pits, are arranged in 17 rows. Ventrals 205-228; anal plate divided; subcaudals 56-70, divided (paired).
Habitat
Sibynophis sagittarius is found in forests.
Behavior
It is not arboreal, but rather hunts by day on the forest floor.
Diet
It feeds on insects, frogs, skinks, and snakes.
Reproduction
An oviparous species, it lays a clutch of as many as six eggs.