Green Keelback
Green Keelback (Rhabdophis nigrocinctus)
The green keelback has a viper like body and glossy looking highly keeled scales. It has a bright green dorsal which is occasionally with irregular black bands or patches. The young have these also but they fade as they age. They have a wide head and round pupils. The neck often has a inverted V in black and yellow colour markings.
Green Keelback Scientific classification:
Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Rhabdophis
Species: Rhabdophis nigrocinctus
Sub Species: Rhabdophis plumbicolor plumbicolor (CANTOR 1839)
Rhabdophis plumbicolor palabariya (DERANIYAGALA 1955)
(noo ly, sab Keow Kwan Dam)
Appearance Green Snake (nguuekhiiyw), with thin black lines down the length, with a red and pink neck and head and strong black diagonals from the eyes. Similar to other Thailand Keelbacks.
Length : Up to 90 cm
Habitat/Range: Thailand & Southeast Asia A wide range of habitats are found, often near water. This terrestrial snake, which is a ground-based species, is common in Phuket and Phang Nga and throughout Thailand. In Krabi I’ve never seen one.
Notes : This snake is commonly found around water, such as lakes, ponds and gardens.
Active Time Daylight Hours, particularly dawn and dusk close to water.
Food: Fish, frogs and poisonous Bufo Toads.
Defensive behavior: They can flatten their necks and raise their heads like cobras, while others may flatten out the entire body.
Toxicity of Venom: Although this snake has not been known to cause medically significant bites, it is related to Rhabdophis Subminiatus that have proven to be capable of deadly bites. Be very cautious and treat them as potentially deadly and venomous.
Offspring Around 12 eggs are laid by the female. The young have vibrantly colored, black stripes, and speckling all over their body. This can last up to eight months or a whole year. Their neck marks are also noticeable.
