In India you can find 16 species of keelback snakes, which makes it one of the largest family of snakes in the country. The keelback snakes are said to be relatives of the garter snakes, which are pretty common in America.
One of the keelback snakes found in my area is the buff-stripped keelback,
Amphiesma stolatum, and it's also my favorite from the family because of its color and its shy nature. These snakes are found near water bodies in marshy areas and paddy fields.
During mating season, six or seven males can be seen following a female. Due to pheromones (sex hormones) that are released in the air, even a recently killed female may attract males during this particular season. This has given rise to the misbelief that at least six more snakes turn up if a buff-stripped keelback is killed.
The maximum length of this snake is 80 cm, and it is oviparous by nature, laying eggs twice in a year.
The color variations in this snake is the main reason which makes it one of my favorites, as well as its shy nature, which is always beneficial during the rescues.
Photo: Riyaz Khoja
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