Checkered Keelback Did you see this animal?
Scientific Name : Fowlea piscator
Family : Colubridae
Order : Squamata
Class : Reptilia
Phylum : Chordata
Other Name : Asiatic Water Snake
Habitat : Lake margins,ponds,swamps and flooded rice paddies.
Description : The Checkered Keelback is a medium-sized snake but may grow to be large.Coloration is very variable consisting of dark spots arranged quincuncially and often separated by a whitish network or of black longitudinal bands on a pale or dark crossbands with or without whitish spots.The lower parts are white with or without black margins to the shields. The Checkered Keelback is a medium-sized snake but may grow to be large.Coloration is very variable consisting of dark spots arranged quincuncially and often separated by a whitish network or of black longitudinal bands on a pale or dark crossbands with or without whitish spots.The lower parts are white with or without black margins to the shields. This snake often lifts its head high and spreads out its neck skin to resemble a cobra's hood in order to scare off potential threats. While it doesn't pose a venomous threat to humans, its bite can cause inflammation and be quite painful.
It tends to inhabit freshwater lakes or rivers or their surrounding areas as their preferred habitat.
piscator feeds mainly on small fish and water frogs. Being oviparous, it typically lays clutches of 30-70 eggs, although the number may range from as few as 4 to as many as 100 eggs, and the size of each egg can vary as well, ranging from 1.5 to 4.0 cm (0.59-1.57 in) in length. The female takes care of the eggs until they hatch and the hatchlings are approximately 11 cm (4.3 in) in length.
It tends to inhabit freshwater lakes or rivers or their surrounding areas as their preferred habitat.
piscator feeds mainly on small fish and water frogs. Being oviparous, it typically lays clutches of 30-70 eggs, although the number may range from as few as 4 to as many as 100 eggs, and the size of each egg can vary as well, ranging from 1.5 to 4.0 cm (0.59-1.57 in) in length. The female takes care of the eggs until they hatch and the hatchlings are approximately 11 cm (4.3 in) in length.
Distribution in Bangladesh
Other Species from Group
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Rhabdophis subminiatus
(Red-necked Keelback) -
Rhabdophis himalayanus
(Himalayan Keelback) -
Xenochrophis cerasogaster
(Dark bellied marsh snake) -
Atretium schistosum
(Olive Keelback Water Snake) -
Fowlea flavipunctatus
(Yellow-spotted Keelback) -
Amphiesma stolatum
(Striped Keelback) -
Amphiesma platyceps
(Himalayan Mountain Keelback) -
Hebius xenura
(Cherrapunji Keelback)
Species groups
References:
description written by: Hajbun Tasnim Preety,Department of Zoology,University of Dhaka ; information source:www.ecologyasia.com; photo credit:Faysal Ahmed,Department of zoology,Jagannath University Dhaka. photo copyright: Faysal Ahmed. more information please contact with us.
description written by: Hajbun Tasnim Preety,Department of Zoology,University of Dhaka ; information source:www.ecologyasia.com; photo credit:Faysal Ahmed,Department of zoology,Jagannath University Dhaka. photo copyright: Faysal Ahmed. more information please contact with us.