Rhabdops olivaceus
| Olive trapezoid snake | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Rhabdops |
| Species: | R. olivaceus |
| Binomial name | |
| Rhabdops olivaceus (Beddome, 1863) | |
The olive trapezoid snake or olive forest snake (Rhabdops olivaceus) is a rare and little-known non-venomous snake endemic to the Western Ghats of India. This species is found in damp steamsides within rainforests and is distributed from Palghat in Kerala till Malanad area of Karnataka. It is a docile, placid snake and is said to be semi-aquatic, feeding on small, soft bodied animals. In habits it is more frequently seen during the rains, both day or night time.
Recently, populations in Goa and Maharashtra were named as a new species Rhabdops aquaticus.
Its taxonomic affinities remain enigmatic, often shifting between Xenodermatines and Natricines; and still await a proper placement.
External links
References
- Beddome, R.H. 1863 Madras Q. J. Med. Sci. vi: 2.
- Bhosale, Harshal Satish; Devavrat Joshi 2014. Notes on Distribution, Natural History and Habitat Use of a Colubridae Snake, Rhabdops olivaceus (Beddome, 1863) Russ. J. Herpetol. 21 (3): 166-168.
- Ganesh, S. R., S. R. Chandramouli and P. Gowri Shankar 2012. Record lengths of two endemic caenophidian snakes from the Western Ghats Mountains, India. Hamadryad 36 (1): 44-46.
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