Golden Kukri Snake – Oligodon cinereus
With about 75 currently recognized species, the genus Oligodon (Colubridae) is one of the largest genera of Asiatic snakes. It is widespread throughout tropical south and southeast Asia.
The geographic distribution of Oligodon is complex, and also its taxonomy. Several species are widespread and many have overlapping ranges. Oligodon cinereus (in the photo) is in fact a complex species with a highly variable coloring pattern.
These non-venomous snakes are usually nocturnal and often brightly colored. They feed primarily on the eggs of birds and reptiles. The morphology of their teeth is very effective for cutting open eggs, so much that the common name of the kukuri snakes derives from a distinctively shaped Nepalese knife, the kukri, because the hind teeth of the snakes are broad and strongly recurved, much like the shape of the kukri.
Photo credit: ©Anne Devan-Song | Locality: Hong Kong (2012)
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