Travancore wolf snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Travancore wolf snake |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Lycodon
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| Species: |
travancoricus
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The Lycodon travancoricus, often called the Travancore wolf snake, is a special type of snake. It is found only in southern India. This snake is a species of colubrid snake, which means it belongs to a very large family of snakes. It is not venomous, so it is not dangerous to people.
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About the Travancore Wolf Snake
The Travancore wolf snake has a dark brown or black back. It has white stripes that go across its body. You can also see white lines on its sides. Its belly is a plain white color. This snake looks very similar to another snake called Lycodon striatus. However, the Travancore wolf snake usually has a brown upper lip, or a white one with brown spots.
Size and Scales
This snake has smooth scales on its back. These scales are arranged in 17 rows. The scales on its belly, called ventrals, range from 175 to 202. The scale near its vent, called the anal scale, is a single piece. The scales under its tail, called subcaudals, are usually double, but sometimes they can be single. There are typically 56 to 76 subcaudal scales.
Adult Travancore wolf snakes can grow up to 60 centimeters (about 23.5 inches) long. Their tail can be about 12.5 centimeters (almost 5 inches) long. The longest one ever recorded was 74.2 centimeters (about 29 inches).
Where the Snake Lives
The Travancore wolf snake is found only in Peninsular India. This means it lives in the southern part of India. It likes to live in hills and mountains, especially in wet forests that are high up.
Specific Locations
You can find this snake in the Western Ghats mountain range. It lives in the Indian states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, and southern Gujarat. It also lives in the southern parts of the Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu. Interestingly, it has also been found in the Maldives.
Some snakes that were once thought to be this species have been reclassified. Snakes from the Eastern Ghats and Deccan Plateau in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are now known to be a different species. They are called Lycodon deccanensis.
Habits and Habitat
The Travancore wolf snake is a nocturnal animal. This means it is most active at night. It is also an oviparous snake, which means it lays eggs. As mentioned before, it is not venomous.
This snake prefers to live in forests. It can be found in both evergreen forests, where trees stay green all year, and deciduous forests, where trees lose their leaves. It likes areas on windy plains and hills.
