Wildlifeof India
Rhabdophis himalayanus
Colubrid Snakes
Photo: (c) Rohit Naniwadekar, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)
Rhabdophis himalayanus
Basic stats
Range
India (Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and others), Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, northern Myanmar and China (Yunnan, Tibet)
Size
Up to 83cm total length; tail 20cm
The orange-collared keelback is a rear-fanged snake. It is olive above with small dark spots and two lengthwise series of small whitish spots or narrow crossbars. Behind the head an orange or yellow collar, usually broken on the midline, is followed by a blackish blotch on the nape. It may attain 83 cm in total length with a tail of 20 cm (Wikipedia, general species account).
The toxicity of its venom is not known, but it overpowers prey quickly. In India it has been recorded from Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh (including Changlang, Papum Pare and East Siang districts) and Mizoram.
Quick answers
- Where is the Rhabdophis himalayanus found?
- India (Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and others), Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, northern Myanmar and China (Yunnan, Tibet)
- How big is the Rhabdophis himalayanus?
- Up to 83cm total length; tail 20cm