Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Species
Why in News?
A rare olive-green coloured Green Keelback snake was spotted near Gangawadi village, on the fringes of B.R. Hills, in Yelandur taluk, Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka.
Morphological Characteristics
- Size – Usually 60–70 cm long; newborns measure approximately 10–11 cm.
- Body – Slender, with keeled (ridged) scales.
- Head – Obtusely rounded and slightly broader than the neck.
- Dorsal colour – Olive-brown to olive-green, usually with two fine red lines along the body.
- Underside – Yellow-white, yellow-green or reddish-orange.
Snakes
- Snakes are reptiles belonging to the order Squamata.
- Snakes serve an important ecological function by regulating populations of frogs, rodents, and other small animals.
- Non-venomous snakes are not necessarily harmless; they may bite if threatened.
- Raising a hood is a defensive behaviour seen in certain snakes, especially cobras.
B.R. Hills
- Full name – Biligiri Rangana Betta.
- Location – Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka.
- Ecological significance – The region forms an important wildlife habitat in the Western Ghats–Eastern Ghats landscape.
- Protected area – Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve.
Reference
DH | Rare Olive-Green Green Keelback Snake
