Mountain Worm-Eating Snake ( Trachischium monticola Cantor, 1839 )

Mountain Worm-Eating Snake ( Trachischium monticola Cantor, 1839 )

 

Scientific Name:
Trachischium monticola (Cantor, 1839)
Show Synonyms
Lama Camp, Arunachal Pradesh

Distribution:
Family:
Natricidae
Characteristics for identification:

This species is totally distinct from all other Trachischium species in following characters: 1) higher (15 vs 13 in all other) mid body dorsal rows. 2) Lowest range of ventral scales (113-125 in this species).
Description:

Description:
Maximum length- 25cm.

Dorsal body-
Body cylindrical with shiny smooth scales of same size. Dorsal color light or dark brown with blackish longitudinal lines; two more usually faint reddish or light stripes found laterally.

Ventral body -
Belly color yellowish.

Head -
Head depressed on snout; not broader than neck. Upper lip color brown or lighter than rest of head. Eyes with rounded pupil. One yellowish spot may also present on each side on neck.

Tail -
Short length tail ends with conical tip.
Hide Scalation
Head:
Supralabial 6; 3rd & 4th in contact with eyes; prefrontals 2, preocular 1; loreal 1, postocular 2, rarely united; temporal 1+1.
Dorsal:
Smooth scales in 15: 15: 15 rows without apical pits.
Ventral:
113-125; anal undivided.
Sub Caudal:
26-40; paired.
Hide Look Alike
Rosebelly Worm-eating Snake
Yellow-Belly Worm-Eating Snake
Black-Belly Worm-Eating Snake
Blyth's Reticulate Snake