From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The checkered keelback (Fowlea piscator), also known commonly as the Asiatic water snake, is a common species of non venomous snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. While small congregations can be found in wells and ponds, there is a marked absence of them through much of their landscape during the hot and dry months. In colder regions, it hibernates. snakes are long and thin, and difficult to photograph in the wild, without a set up, so ge Body of average girth. Description: Up to 1m long. It can be found almost any place where there is water and vegetation to hide in, and in … The bite may cause just wounds but it will not be toxic. In some parts of India they have been observed occasionally hunting and mass feeding in coordinated groups. How ever, they could be encountered on land too. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. While X. piscator does not possess any venom glands, its saliva m i ght contain toxic elements: it has been reported numerous times that after a bite … Checkered KeelBack . Checkered keelbacks are voracious feeders, responding actively to movement and ripples in water,or any visible movement on land. You timed the shot well as it emerged from the darkness...like that spot light on the head and the reflection is a bonus. Hard to say… that cat is licking something though, of THAT you can be assured… :) Reply. When first caught, checkered keelbacks try and repeatedly bite almost anything they can reach. RoundGlass Sustain is a media-rich resource on India’s natural world. Tony Petaja. As their scientific name Fowlea piscator suggests, checkered keelbacks are primarily fisheaters. it flattens its neck region and the fore part of the body and may bite savagely. Juveniles have a characteristic yellow mark on their neck that fades with age. Being eaten is not the only danger that plagues a young keelback. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The species’ eagerness to feed is beaten only by their reputation as vicious biters. Although venomous, checkered keelbacks aren’t really harmful to humans. The Checkered Keelback is one of the most adaptable snakes I have ever seen, able to survive in crowded cities and under water conditions that kill off most other native wildlife. The belly is pearly white. Checkered keelbacks hunt using their sharp eyesight. They hide in leaf litter, bogs, grass,and any place they can find a healthy mix of feed and security. English name: Checkered KeelbackScientific name: Fowlea piscator (formerly Xenochrophis piscator)Thai name: งูลายสอใหญ่ (Ngu Lai-so Yai). TERMS OF USE Red-necked Keelback is more colorful and has a characteristic red neck. The Checkered Keelback grows up to about 1000mm in length. will all happily make a quick meal of a little keelback. Contribution to the ecosystem: The Checkered Keelback eats fish, frogs, rodents, birds, and smaller snakes. The checkered keelback is a very strong snake. Mating seems to be purely by chance, and there aren’t yet any reports of male combat in this species. They start the breeding season in late winter and groups of males can often be seen with one female, vying to mate with her. Did the keelback have bite marks all over it from the cat? Frogs, small fish, tadpoles and insects all contribute to the high protein diet they need to grow fast. Checkered keelbacks seem to favour ponds with sufficient vegetation, which enables them to hide from danger and hunt effectively. Two black streaks come down and back from the eye, and in some specimens there is an inverted black “V”-mark on the neck with the point facing the head. © RoundGlass 2020, India Checkered keelbacks are also prolific breeders. Sometimes, a couple of dozen snakes can be seen congregating at these places and gorging themselves on the feast of fish, much like scaled down grizzly bears grabbing salmon. Change ). Every so often I’ve seen a keelback struggle with a particularly large fish, frog, or toad, that they almost certainly cannot swallow. This is where a really large clutch size helps the species persist. However, danger lurks everywhere when you’re that little. Body is olive-brown to tan, yellow-brown, or gray with a black checkered pattern (faded in some populations). The juveniles are eaten by larger snakes and birds. How ever its average length is 750mm. In parts of South Asia the black marks expand into large blotches. The species is endemic to Asia. Congratulations on catching that moment with the light. Nice spotlight on the head. Lovely picture. 1756 114th AVE SE They have since been split into different species, with the Checkered Keelback being found to occur only in western Thailand, Burma, southern China, Bangladesh, and India, but not in Bangkok. The body is cylindrical and the tail is about one third the body length. 2nd Floor, Sector 67,SAS Nagar Even agricultural spaces that used to be perfect for these snakes now suffer from extensive use of pesticides, fertilisers,and herbicides. If so, that cat might also be a snake licker. Roads now crisscross through lands that were once open grassland, forest, or wetland. It can be found almost any place where there is water and vegetation to hide in, and in much of its range it is the most commonly found snake. They either barely succeed at ingesting it, or just give up and leave it to other scavengers. Indian Wolf; Black Panther The belly is pearly white. In rural settings, checkered keelbacks seem to love rice fields with the bounty of fish and frogs they have to offer. This character has earned one of the common name water cobra which is non-venomous snake. +91-11 39585644 ( Log Out /  Home; Magazine; Did You Know ? It is an an aquatic snake. Though it has no venom glands, some people report itching and slight swelling after a bite. Being opisthoglyphous, checkered keelbacks have their fangs in the rear of the mouth. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Bite is inflammatory. This fact seems lost on many a snake rescuer who will back away from checkered keelbacks and seem less confident with this harmless snake than they are while handling a cobra! Beautiful capture. It is a common snake in paddy field ecosystems. Did the keelback have bite marks all over it from the cat? Nature School For Teachers - Fall 2020 Launch! The head is slightly oval in shape and the neck is distinct.

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