A small size Wolf Snake which looks very close to Kraits due to black dorsal and milky white bands. This is the second most widely distributed Wolf Snake of India. Due to its black color and white bands people often assume it to be Common Krait (B. caeruleus). It can be easily identified by checking thick white bars over glossy black dorsal body. White bands usually have vibrant yellow patches on top which are helpful to distinguish it from Kraits. This species mainly lives in cracks at low heights, loose roots of vegetation and rocky terrain.
🗒 Synonyms
| synonym | Coluber malignus Daudin 1803 (fide Smith 1943) |
| synonym | Coluber malignus Daudin, 1803 |
| synonym | Coluber striatus Shaw, 1802 |
| synonym | Contia bicolor Nikolsky 1903 |
| synonym | Lycodon galathea Daudin 1803 (fide Smith 1943) |
| synonym | Lycodon galathea Daudin, 1803 |
| synonym | Lycodon napei Duméril & Bibron, 1854 |
| synonym | Lycodon striatus bicolor (Nikolsky 1903) |
| synonym | Lycodon striatus Boulenger 1893 |
| synonym | Lycodon striatus Lanza 1999 |
| synonym | Lycodon striatus nordicus Deraniyagala 1955 (fide Lanza 1999) |
| synonym | Lycodon striatus sinhaleyus Deraniyagala 1955 |
| synonym | Lycodon striatus Smith 1943 |
| synonym | Lycodon striatus Stoliczka 1870 |
| synonym | Lycodon striatus striatus Murthy 2010 |
| synonym | Lycodon striatus Wall 1921 |
| synonym | Lycodon striatus Wallach et al. 2014 |
| synonym | Ophites striatus Wall, 1921 |
🗒 Common Names
| English |
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| Other |
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📚 Overview
Summary
Reptile group
snakes
Brief
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Scales in 17:17:15 rows. Ventrals 154-166, anal divided. Subcaudals paired 35-50
Sandeep Das, P S Easa, Jafer Palot
| Attributions | Sandeep Das, P S Easa, Jafer Palot |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Diagnostic Keys
Head:
8 supralabial; 3rd to 5th in contact with eyes; preocular 1; loreal 1, in contact with internasal; postocular 1; temporal 2+3 or 1+2 (rarely).
Dorsal:
Glossy smooth scales in 17: 17: 15 rows.
Ventral:
South of lat. 20° 154-166, North of lat 20° 163-195; anal divided.
Sub Caudal:
South of lat. 20° 35-50, North of lat. 20° 44-58; paired.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
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SubSpecies Varieties Races
Currently three subspecies are recognized which needs taxonomic revision:
Lycodon striatus striatus Shaw, 1802 (Indian population)
Lycodon striatus bicolor Nikolsky, 1903 (Western population)
Lycodon striatus sinhaleyus Deraniyagala, 1955 (Sri Lankan population)
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Lycodon striatus bicolor (Nikolsky 1903)
Uetz, P., Freed, P. & Hošek, J. (eds.), The Reptile Database, http://www.reptile-database.org, accessed 11/12/2018
Lycodon striatus sinhaleyus Deraniyagala 1955
Uetz, P., Freed, P. & Hošek, J. (eds.), The Reptile Database, http://www.reptile-database.org, accessed 11/12/2018
No Data
📚 Nomenclature and Classification
References
eng: Barred Wolf Snake
Curated from The Reptile Database
| Attributions | Curated from The Reptile Database |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Natural History
Reproduction
Reproductive mode (Reptiles)
Oviparous
Most of the new born seen during monsoon. Female lays & guards upto 4 eggs under the rocks, narrow cracks, loose roots, insect holes etc. Incubation period is usually 50-60 days depending upon geographical location and temperature.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Morphology
Dorsal -
Body slender with shiny, subequal and smooth. Dorsal color glossy black or dark chocolate brown. Milky white cross bars starts from the neck till the end of tail where they become reticulated or net like; on fore and mid body bars are narrow on the top while forked on flank. In almost all specimens clear yellow color patch exist on the top of each bar; sometimes very faint or not visible in adults.
Ventral -
Belly entirely glossy white without any pattern. Subcaudal scales paired in zig-zag manner.
Head -
Head depressed on snout and more rounded than typical Lycodon species with smooth shiny scales; slightly broader than neck. Upper lip color may be white or black. Eyes entirely black with vertically elliptical pupil; tongue color reddish.
Tail -
Normal length tail with dense reticulations; ends with pointed tip.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Look Alikes
Common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus)
Light color morphs look like Common Wolf Snake (Lycodon aulicus)
Travancore Wolf Snake (Lycodon travancoricus)
Yellow-spotted Wolf Snake (Lycodon flavomaculatus)
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Behaviour
Barred Wolf Snake is a nocturnal and terrestrial species which shows activity usually on ground but sometimes seen at low heights. Behavior shy, elusive and non-offensive. On provocation restrict itself in a small ball like coil with head hidden under it. Jerk its tail in aggressive response. On handling usually don't make bite attempts.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Trophic Strategy
Feeds mostly on geckos, small skinks; other small snakes; juveniles and subadults feeds on larvae and small insects.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Habitat and Distribution
General Habitat
Remain hidden in narrow cracks, insect holes, under heavy objects, loose roots during day time. Widely distributed in variety of forests including dry and mixed deciduous forests, rainforests, semi-deserts, grasslands etc. Lives both in hills and plains. Habitat includes agricultural lands, rocky terrain, open lands having cracks and insect holes etc.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Forests and human habitations
Sandeep Das, P S Easa, Jafer Palot
| Attributions | Sandeep Das, P S Easa, Jafer Palot |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Description
All over the India excluding most of West Bengal, whole North-east region and islands.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Throughout India
Sandeep Das, P S Easa, Jafer Palot
| Attributions | Sandeep Das, P S Easa, Jafer Palot |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Occurrence
No Data
📚 Demography and Conservation
Threats
Threats including killing due to confusion & misidentification with venomous species Common Krait. As this species is well confined in modified habitats like agricultural lands, gardens and urban settlements, habitat destruction seems not much affecting its overall population status.
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
Protection Legal Status
Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Schedule 4
indiansnakes.org
| Attributions | indiansnakes.org |
| Contributors | |
| Status | UNDER_CREATION |
| Licenses | CC_BY |
| References |
No Data
📚 Uses and Management
No Data
📚 Information Listing
References
- Uetz, P., Freed, P. & Hošek, J. (eds.), The Reptile Database, http://www.reptile-database.org, accessed 11/12/2018
- Whitaker, R. and Captain, A .2004. Snakes of India. The Field Guide. Draco Books.Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu,xiv+479, pls, text-figs.
Overview > Diagnostic > Diagnostic Keys
- Günther A. (1864) The Reptiles of British India. London: Published for the Ray Society by Robert Hardwicke
- Dutta S. K., Acharjyo L. N. (1995) Herpetofaunal resources and their conservation in Orissa, India. Zoos’ Print, Vol. 10 (7), pp. 5-8
- Murthy T. S. N. (2010) The Reptile fauna of India. B. R. Publishing Corporation
- Srinivasulu C., Das I. (2008) The Herpetofauna of Nallamala Hills, Eastern Ghats, India: an annotated checklist, with remarks on nomenclature, taxonomy, habitat use, adaptive types and biogeography. Asiatic Herpetological Research, Vol. 11, pp.110–131
- Smith M. A. (1943) The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma including the whole of The Indo-Chinese Sub-region, Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol 3 Serpentes. Taylor & Francis, London.
- Boulenger G. A. (1890) The fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma, Reptilia and Batrachia. London: Taylor and Francis.
- Mukherjee D., Bhupathy S. (2007) A new species of Wolf Snake (Serpentes: Colubridae: Lycodon) from Anaikatti Hills, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India. Russian Journal of Herpetology Vol. 14 (1), pp. 21 – 26
- Captain A. (1999) On the identification of Lycodon flavomaculatus Wall 1907. Journal, Bombay Natural History Society 96 (2), pp. 323-327
- Chandra K., Gajbe P. U. (2005) An inventory of herpetofauna of Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Zoos' Print Journal 20 (3): 1812-1819
- Wall F. (1908) Notes on snakes collected in Fyzabad. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society (18), pp. 101-129
- Whitaker R., Captain A. (2004) Snakes of India, The Field Guide. Draco Books
- Thakur S. (2011) A note on snakes of Kanha National Park and surrounding areas. Reptile Rap (11), pp. 2-5
- Boulenger G. A. (1893) Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Vol. 1, London: Taylor and Francis.
- Chikane S., Bhosale H. (2012) Reptiles of Kaas, Northern Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India, with notes on habitat preferences, abundances and threats. Sauria, Berlin, 34 (3): 3–15
- Wallach V., Williams K. L., Boundy J. (2014) Snakes of the World: A catalogue of living and extinct species. Taylor and Francis, CRC Press, 1237 pp.
Information Listing > References
- Uetz, P., Freed, P. & Hošek, J. (eds.), The Reptile Database, http://www.reptile-database.org, accessed 11/12/2018
- Whitaker, R. and Captain, A .2004. Snakes of India. The Field Guide. Draco Books.Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu,xiv+479, pls, text-figs.
Vertebrate fauna of the Chambal River Basin, with emphasis on the National Chambal Sanctuary, India
Jo
Journal of Threatened TaxaCEPF Western Ghats Special Series: Status of reptiles in Meghamalai and its environs, Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India
Jo
Journal of Threatened TaxaNo Data
🐾 Taxonomy
| Root | Root |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Reptilia |
| Order | Squamata |
| Family | Colubridae |
| Genus | Lycodon |
| Species | Lycodon striatus (Shaw 1802) |
📊 Temporal Distribution
📷 Related Observations
