Oligodon calamarius

Oligodon calamarius is a species of nonvenomous colubrid endemic to Sri Lanka. It is known as කබර දත්-කැටියා (kabara dath ketiya) in Sinhala.

Oligodon calamarius
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Oligodon
Species:	O. calamarius
Binomial name
Oligodon calamarius (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms[2]
Coluber Calamarius Linnaeus, 1758 Oligodon templetonii Günther, 1862 Oligodon calamarius — M.A. Smith, 1943

Etymology

Oligodon templetoni, now a junior synonym of Oligodon calamarius, was named in honour of Irish naturalist Dr. Robert Templeton who obtained the first known specimen.^[2][3]

Description

O. calamarius is a terrestrial snake from lowlands of the wet zone, reaching montane limits, up to 1,800 m (5,900 ft). The head is short, scarcely distinct from the neck. The pupil of the eye is round. The dorsum is light brown with a light vertebral stripe. There are 18–24 narrow dark brown, light-edged cross-bands that are either complete or half-way cross the back. The venter is cream, with square black markings. The forehead has a dark crescentric marking and an elongated spot behind it.

Distribution

O. calamarius is known from Udugama in the Southern Province, Hewissa and Mathugama in the Western Province, Ratnapura and Balangoda in the Sabaragamuwa Province, and Peradeniya in Central Province.