Callophis trimaculatus

Slender Coral is the most widely distributed Coral Snake (of genus Calliophis) of India and also found in Sri Lanka. This is also the smallest venomous snake of Indian subcontinent. Morphologically it can be identified by jet black head patched with white and dorsal body of plain grayish-brown color followed by black tail which is also patched with brown or white. Except tail details it looks almost similar to non-venomous Dumeril's Black-headed Snake (Sibynophis subpunctatus). Scales in 13:13:13 rows. Ventrals 249-277; Subcaudals males 33-37, females 24-27.

DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERES

Head: 

6 supralabial; 3rd & 4th in contact with eyes, 5th & 6th in contact with temporals; preocular 1; loreal absent hence preocular directly touches nasal; postocular 2; temporal 1+1.

Dorsal: 

Smooth scales in 13: 13: 13 rows.

Ventral: 

249-277 (India); 229-257 (Sri Lanka), anal divided.

Sub Caudal: 

33-37 (Male) 24-27 (Female) for India; 27-37 for Sri Lanka; paired.

REPRODUCTION

Oviparous, Mating not much known. Lays 2-4 eggs under dense leaf litters, insect hole or very narrow and deep cracks. 

SIZE

Average length- 30cm

Maximum length- 57cm

MORPHOLOGY

Dorsal:

Body slender with sub equal smooth scales. Color uniform grayish-brown with reddish ting. Each dorsal scale dotted with single blackish dot on the tip.

Ventral:

Belly uniform warm red or orange mixed with red; white margin may exist between side dorsals and ventral surface.

Head:

Head blunt with rounded snout; not clearly distinct from neck. Color jet black up to neck, with or without white collar. Two white spots near temporal and one rounded patch on the top of neck present in most of specimens; few white patches may also present on lip and side of neck. Eyes small and entirely black.

Tail:

Very short tail with blunt end. Bears three or four distinctly colored region of black, brown and white.

Looks like Dumeril's Black-headed Snake (Sibynophis subpunctatus).

BEHAVIOUR

Slender Coral is a nocturnal and burrowing snake which sometime shows activity during daylight having low temperature. Spend most of its life as a burrower and occasionally comes on ground. Behavior shy, elusive and usually non-offensive. First try to escape under heavy objects but on provocation coil its tail and few portion of posterior body to show aggression which is mainly done by display of vibrant colors of underside of tail and rest of belly.

Feeds on termites, insect eggs, narrow bodied insects, small snakes etc.

VENOMOSITY:

Venomous.

GENERAL HABITAT:

Lives both in plains and hills. Distributed in variety of forests including rainforest, mixed, moist and dry deciduous forests of peninsular India. Habitat includes agricultural lands, gardens, both dense & open forests etc. Micro habitat includes loose and moist soil, insect holes, under buries leaf litter, under loose root of plans etc.