Sibynophis sagittarius

Sibynophis sagittarius, commonly known as Cantor's black-headed snake after Theodore Cantor,^[4][5] is a species of snake endemic to South Asia.^[3]

Sibynophis sagittarius
Specimen from Uttarakhand
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Sibynophis
Species:	S. sagittarius
Binomial name
Sibynophis sagittarius (Cantor, 1839)
Synonyms
Calamaria sagittaria Cantor, 1839 Ablabes sagittarius – Günther, 1864 Polyodontophis sagittarius – Boulenger, 1890 Sibynophis sagittarius – M.A. Smith, 1943 Sibynophis sagittaria [sic] – Das, 1996[2][3]

Geographic range

It is found in central and northeastern India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Pakistan.^[3] It is uncertain whether the species occurs or has occurred in Bangladesh.^[6]

Description

Adults may attain 28 cm (11 in) in total length, with a tail 6 cm (2.4 in) long.

As the common name implies, the dorsal surface of the head, including the nape of the neck, is black or dark brown, followed by a thin yellow nuchal collar. Also, there are two large elongate yellowish spots, one on each side of the back of the head. The upper surface of the body is pale brown, and the sides of the body are darker brown or gray. On each flank there is a thin black stripe separating the differently colored areas. A series of small black dots, widely separated, run down the vertebral row of dorsal scales. The underside is yellow, with a black dot at each outer end of every ventral.

The smooth dorsal scales, which lack apical pits, are arranged in 17 rows. Ventrals 205–228; anal plate divided; subcaudals 56–70, divided (paired).^[7]

Habitat

Sibynophis sagittarius is found in forests.^[5]

Behavior

It is not arboreal, but rather hunts by day on the forest floor.^[5]

Diet

It feeds on insects, frogs, skinks, and snakes.^[5]

Reproduction

An oviparous species, it lays a clutch of as many as six eggs.^[5]