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Residents shocked as over 80 snake hatchlings found in Gudiyattam house
A house owner had the shock of his life after he found over 80 checkered keelback snake hatchlings and several eggs at the backyard of his house at Indira Nagar in Gudiyattam.
By
migrator
migrator
Vellore
They were found near a plastic sheet. Scared on seeing a heap of reptiles, he immediately informed the fire and rescue services personnel, who reached the spot and retrieved the hatchlings and the eggs, which was later handed over to the forest department.
Meanwhile, a huge crowd gathered outside his house after the news about the snake pile spread in the neighbourhood.Â
Vellore District Forest Officer (DFO) Sumesh Soman said that the hatchlings that checkered keelback species was a non-venomous Asiatic water snake. As the house where they were found was located near a water body and also farmlands, the female snake might have laid the eggs at that spot. Forest department staff said the hatchlings would be released into the nearby forest later.
KEELBACK’S CHARACTERISTICS
APPEARANCE:Â
- Checkered Keelback snake (thanni paambu) is a fresh water species and a non-venomous variety with oval head and large eyes. Its tail is one-third to one-fourth of its total length.Â
- 4 races of this snake are recognised.
COLOUR COMBINATION:
It has strong-keeled scales and five rows of black spots with yellowish or olivaceous background. The spots vary in size sometimes occupying most of the back. Its head is olive brown with two black streaks one below and one behind eye.
SIZE: 60 cm to 80 cm is the average length of this snake.
HABITAT: This snake is found in tanks, paddy fields, pools and rivers.
DIET: Frogs, fish and tadpoles
GESTATION PERIOD AND PROCESS:
- It lays 80 to 90 eggs and mostly between December and March.
- 55 to 67 days is the gestation period.
- Female probably incubates eggs, which are usually laid in a nest hole in the ground near water.
STRIKE AND SPEED:
- This snake strikes rapidly and flattens body before attacking.
- An active snake, capable of jumping clear off the ground.
OTHER COMMON NAMES: Freshwater snake, water snake, swamp tiger
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