Wildlifeof India
Spalerosophis atriceps
Colubrid Snakes
Photo: Ikmo-ned · CC BY-SA 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Spalerosophis atriceps
Basic stats
Habitat
Deserts, rocky areas and scrub forest
Range
North-western India, Nepal and Pakistan
Clutch size
3–8 eggs, laid in October in India
Size
Head and body up to 2m
The black-headed royal snake, or Fischer's royal snake, is a colubrid snake endemic to South Asia, found in north-western India, Nepal and Pakistan. It prefers deserts, rocky areas and scrub forest, and may reach a snout-to-vent length of 2 m. It is pale orange, pink or yellow above with scattered black flecks, with a head that is wholly black or black and deep red above, deep red sides of the head and nape, and a pinkish underside (Wikipedia, general species account).
It is nocturnal and lays eggs. In India the adult female lays a clutch of 3 to 8 eggs in October, each 56–78 mm long and 16–27 mm wide. The Reptile Database lists Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan.
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Spalerosophis atriceps live in?
- Deserts, rocky areas and scrub forest
- Where is the Spalerosophis atriceps found?
- North-western India, Nepal and Pakistan
- How many eggs does the Spalerosophis atriceps lay?
- 3–8 eggs, laid in October in India
- How big is the Spalerosophis atriceps?
- Head and body up to 2m