Lycodon travancoricus or Travancore Wolf snake is an endemic snake of Western and Eastern Ghats, found mainly in rain forests and mixed deciduous forests. It is reticent in behaviour and generally non-offensive. It coils with head hidden under it on provocation like most of wolf snake species but can bite on odd handling attempts. It was first described by Colonel Richard Henry Beddome from the Travancore hills in 1870. It is a non venomous snake of about 60-75 cm in length; the tooth resembles the canines of wolf and got its common name. It is usually being misjudged with venomous snake, Krait, for the black body and yellow bands. An undivided anal scale is a key character that distinguishes this species from other wolf snakes. It has a loreal scale, which does not touch the inter nasals. It is nocturnal and good in climbing rocks, walls and trees. It is common in forest and human habitats, feed on lizards, geckos and other snakes and its breeding is during winter season
Information and Editing: Mr. Nandakumar M K and Dr. Smitha S. Thankappan; Photograph: Mr. Nandakumar M K; Approval: Dr. N Anil Kumar