The kukri snake, Oligodon arnesis, isn’t very familar to snake lovers from the African and American continents. If you’re among them, you probably wonder where he got his name.

These snakes are called “kukri” because their teeth/fangs look like a Nepali weapon called the kukri.

Despite their weaponized name, these snakes are non-venomous. They are found in many Asian countries including China, Thailand, and Malaysia.

IDENTIFICATION

1. Small snakes with smooth, glossy scales on dorsal and belly is enamel white.
2. Greyish brown dorsal with black bands from neck to tail. Bands usually broad on top, tapers on flank.
3. Small eyes with round pupils, large A-shaped rostral (snout) and distinct arrowhead design on top of head.
4. Juveniles have much denser bands. Adults grow to 1-1.5 feet on average.

General  Characteristics 

Commonly distributed all over India .General length is 50 cm approximately but it can grow up to 70 mm .Dorsal body is slender with shiny smooth brown colored scales. Regular black or dark brown bands with grayish tint are present, starting from head to tail. They diminish as they near the tail. Juveniles have dense bands as compared to the adults. The bands are narrower on side dorsal region and clearly broader on the top. Number of such bands can be from 10 to 30 or very rarely absent.

Specimens from West Bengal have much narrower bands with light dorsal body color than specimens from the rest of India .Specimens from Maharashtra and South Indian region sometimes have broader bands. Belly color is Glossy White. Sub caudal scales paired in Zigzag manner.

Head is pointed with large ‘A shape rostral ‘.It is slightly broader than the neck .Upper lip color is lighter than head color which can be yellowish or olive colored. A specific ‘A’ shape mark (in zebra pattern) is present, starting from the frontal, passes through parietal and touches 1-3 ventrals. Eyes have a rounded pupil. Tongue is shiny red in color. ‘Sharp kukri knife’ shaped teeth is present on the back side of mouth which are useful to tear eggs from side. Tail is normal with typical range and pointed tip. Typical blackish bands are present in most of the cases.

Key characteristics for identification-

1. Brown body with Black bands.
2. Head has ‘A’ shape marking in Zebra pattern.

Behavior 

Common Kukri is a nocturnal species .It remains hidden in dark and silent places during day time. The snake lives in terminate mounds, under heavy rocks , caves , dense dry leaves , wood caves ,piles of brick, wood rock , dump etc. They always prefer a dark surrounding.

It feeds on small prey including insects, larvae, reptile eggs, small mice, skinks and geckos etc. On provocation they flatten their whole body, make their body‘s’ shape with the neck some height above the ground and show full alertness.

Reproduction

Mating period is not very known but it could reproduce almost the whole year .In the states of South India young are seen from monsoon to summer .Females lay about 3-9 eggs.