Hebius khasiensis

Hebius khasiensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Hebius
Species:	H. khasiensis
Binomial name
	Hebius khasiensis; (Boulenger, 1890)
Synonyms
	Tropidonotus khasiensis Boulenger, 1890; Natrix khasiensis ; – M.A. Smith, 1943; Amphiesma khasiensis ; – Malnate, 1960; Amphiesma khasiense ; – Ziegler et al., 2006;

Hebius khasiensis, commonly known as the Khasi Hills keelback or Khasi keelback, is a species of colubrid snake endemic to southeastern Asia.^[1]

Geographic range[]

It is found in parts of southern China (Tibet, Yunnan), eastern India (Assam), Thailand,^[2] Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam.^[1]

Description[]

It is a reddish-brown snake with a white transverse bar running across the supralabial scales.

The dorsal scales are in 19 rows, rather strongly keeled, except for the smooth outer row. The ventrals number 150-154, the subcaudals 80–100. The anal plate is divided.

Adults are about 60 cm (23½ in.) total length, of which about 19 cm (7½ in.) is tail.^[3]

Diet[]

The Khasi Hills keelback's nutritional intake consists primarily of toads.

Photos[]

Hebius khasiensis, Khasi Hills keelback - Phu Kradueng National Park

References[]

^ ^a ^b ^c Hebius khasiensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 7 September 2014.
^ "Amphiesma khasiense". Centre for Herpetology, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
^ Boulenger, G.A. 1893. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families...Colubridæ Aglyphæ, Part. Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). London. xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I.-XXVIII. (Tropidonotus khasiensis, p. 223 & Plate Xiii., fig. 3.)