Yunnan keelback
The Yunnan keelback (Hebius parallelum) is a species of natricine snake which is endemic to Asia.
| Yunnan keelback | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Hebius |
| Species: | H. parallelum |
| Binomial name | |
| Hebius parallelum (Boulenger, 1890) | |
| Synonyms | |
Geographic range
It is found in India, primarily in the Indian states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim. It is also found in southern China (Yunnan province), Myanmar, Nepal, Tibet, and Vietnam.
Description
Dorsally, it is brown with two parallel yellowish, black-edged stripes on the body and tail. The ventrals and subcaudals are uniform yellow, or with a black dot on each side. There is a black streak from the eye to the corner of the mouth, and the labials are yellow.
It may have one, two, or three preocular scales, and has three postoculars. There are seven or eight upper labials (usually eight), with the third, fourth, and fifth entering the eye. The temporals may be 1 + 1, 1 + 2, or 2 + 2.
Strongly keeled dorsal scales arranged in 19 rows at midbody. Ventrals 163-175; anal plate divided; subcaudals 73–95, also divided.
Adults may attain 56 cm (22 inches) in total length with a tail of 14 cm (5½ inches).[2]
References
- The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume I., Containing the Families...Colubridæ Aglyphæ. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London. xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I.-XXVIII. (Tropidonotus parallelus, p. 223 & Plate XIII., fig. 2.)
Further reading
- Boulenger, G.A. 1890. The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. Secretary of State for India in Council. (Taylor and Francis, Printers). London. xviii + 541 pp. (Tropidonotus parallelus, p. 345.)