Checkered Keelback or Asiatic Water Snake is an Indian Reptile that bears a scientific name "Xenochrophis piscator" is a common species of non-venomous snake concentrated widely in Asia and South Asian countries.
Eyes of Checkered Keelback
The eyes of Checkered Keelback or Asiatic Water Snake are rather small, and shorter than its distance from the nostril in the adult.
Scales of Checkered Keelback
The rostral scale of Checkered Keelback is visible from above. The intranasal scales are much narrowed anteriorly and subtriangular, with the anterior angle truncated as long as the prefrontal scales. The frontal scale is longer than its distance from the end of the snout, and as long as the parietals or a little shorter.
Loreal of Checkered Keelback
The loreal of Checkered Keelback is nearly as long as it is deep. There is one pre-ocular and three (rarely four) post-oculars.
Temporals of Checkered Keelback
The temporals of Checkered Keelback are 2+2 or 2+3. There are normally nine upper labials, with the fourth and fifth entering the eye and five lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are shorter than the posterior.
Rows of Checkered Keelback
The scales of Checkered Keelback or Asiatic water snake are arranged in 19 rows, strongly keeled, with outer rows smooth.
Ventrals of Checkered Keelback
The ventrals are at 125-158, anal divided, with subcaudals at 64-90.
Colours of Checkered Keelback
Checkered Keelback or Asiatic Water Snake has the coloration which is very variable. It is consisting of dark spots arranged quincuncially and often separated by a whitish network, or of black longitudinal bands on a pale ground, or of dark cross bands, with or without whitish spots. Two oblique black streaks, one below and the other behind the eye, are nearly constant, lower parts white, with or without black margins to the shields.
Habitat of Checkered Keelback
Checkered Keelback or Asiatic Water Snake is found in or near freshwater lakes or rivers.
Feedings of Checkered Keelback
Checkered Keelback or Asiatic Water Snake feeds mainly on small fish and water frogs.
Concentration of Checkered Keelback
Checkered Keelback or Asiatic Water Snake is found in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indian states like Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, West Malaysia, China (Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan), Taiwan, and Indonesia.
