Speckeld Keelback (probably non-venomous)

Description: A medium-sized snake, with a maximum total length of about 82 cm and snout-vent length of 65 cm. Body greyish brown or olive brown above. Anterior fifth of dorsum with black reticulations; the rest traversed by many thin, regular, black crossbars which have a white or pinkish spot at either end. Spots form two dorso-lateral rows that extend to tail tip. Flanks with a row of black bars. Scales strongly keeled. Head distinct from neck. Upper labials cream-coloured, edged in black. Head and neck blackish above. A white V-shaped chevron marking on neck, connecting to angle of mouth; the markings fades with age. Chin white. Ventrals ivory white, with a black spot on the outer end of each scale. Sometimes a median row of dark spots also present on ventrals. Two enlarged teeth at back of mouth.

Habits and habitat: A snake of lowland and hilly areas. Occurs along streams and in forest. Is nocturnal. Other habits largely unknown.

Diet: Is reported to feed on frogs, lizards, birds and mice.

Reproduction: Oviparous. Is reported to lay 3-10 eggs. Hatchlings about 15 cm long.

Distribution: A Southeast Asian species that in China has been recorded from Hainan. The Museum of Natural History in Vienna (Austria) possess two young specimens, some 15 cm in length, that bear the label ¡§Hong Kong¡¨ on their field tags, but with no other data. It seems reasonably likely that the recoded is genuine. Besides Hainan, occurs in Southeast Asia and Indonesia.

Diagnostic features: Greyish brown above; head and neck blackish; a white chevron marking on the neck; two dorso-lateral rows of whitish spots, connected by black crossbars; scales strongly keeled; ventrals with a black spot at each end.