Oligodon kheriensis

Oligodon kheriensis, also known as the coral red kukri snake, is a Kukri snake that was first described in 1936 from the North Kheri Division in Uttar Pradesh, India.[3]

Red coral kukri snake
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Oligodon
Species:
O. kheriensis
Binomial name
Oligodon kheriensis
Acharji and Ray, 1936[2]


Characteristics

The coral kukri snake is bright orange to coral red coloured. The species can be distinguished from O. cyclurus by the following characters: (1) higher number of ventral scales: 196 vs. 159–178 VEN in O. cyclurus; (2) uniform dorsum vs. reticulated or blotched (or blotched and striped) in O. cyclurus, and (3) the absence of the large, arrow-like cephalic and nape marking in O. kheriensis. O. kheriensis is also geographically isolated from Oligodon cyclurus.

Distribution and habitat

Oligodon kheriensis was known from only two specimens. The first was found in the Kheri Division of Uttar Pradesh, India, and another was found in Mahendranagar in western Nepal. In 2002, one individual was recorded in the vicinity of the Chitwan National Park in Nepal.[4] In 2021, it was recorded from Panchagarh, Bangladesh.[5]

In 2014 and 2015, dead specimens were found in Nainital district of Uttarakhand.[6] It was also seen in Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh in July 2012.[7] In the recent past the snake was sighted in Sonaripur range of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in 2018. Subsequently, Field Director Dudhwa Tiger Reserve sighted it in Majhgai Range of North Kheri Division in June 2019. In August 2020, an Oligodon kheriensis was rescued from a residential house in Nainital district of Uttarakhand.[8]

Ecology and behaviour
Coral kukri snake on a tree branch

Little is known of the ecology of the coral kukri snake. It is thought to be nocturnal and living underground most of the time, and that it can dig using its rostral scales. It probably preys on earth worms and larvae.

Conservation

In India, Oligodon kheriensis is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, Schedule IV.[7]

References
  1. Limbu, K.P.; Bhattarai, S.; Ghosh, A.; Das, A. (2022) [amended version of 2021 assessment]. "Oligodon kheriensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T127903363A219116915. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T127903363A219116915.en. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  2. Acharji, M. N., Ray, H. C. (1936). A new species of Oligodon from the United Provinces (India). Records of the Indian Museum, Calcutta 38: 519–520.
  3. Green, M. (2010). Molecular Phylogeny of the Snake Genus Oligodon (Serpentes: Colubridae), with an Annotated Checklist and Key. M. Sc. thesis, University of Toronto.
  4. Pandey, D. (2012). Snakes in the vicinity of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 7 (1): 46–57.
  5. "সাপ: বিরল প্রজাতির রেড কোরাল কুকরি প্রথমবারের মত পাওয়া গেছে বাংলাদেশে" [Snake: Rare Red Koral Kukri found for the first time in Bangladesh] (in Bengali). Dhaka: BBC Bangla. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  6. Upadhyay, Vineet (September 30, 2014). "Rare snake species spotted first time in Uttarakhand". Times of India.
  7. Mathur, Swati (July 15, 2020). "Rare snake discovered in Katerniaghat". Times of India.
  8. "'Rare' Red Coral Kukri Snake Rescued from Residential House in Uttarakhand". News 18. August 9, 2020.


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