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]
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]
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.
