Colubridae
Khasi Hills Keelback
HarmlessHebius khasiensis
2 photographs of the Khasi Hills Keelback. © Ian Dugdale.
The Khasi Hills Keelback (Hebius khasiensis) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 6 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Khasi Hills Keelback
Hebius khasiensis, commonly known as the Khasi Hills keelback or Khasi keelback, is a species of colubrid snake endemic to southeastern Asia.
Geographic range
It is found in parts of southern China (Tibet, Yunnan), eastern India (Assam), Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Description
It is a reddish-brown snake with a white transverse bar running across the supralabial scales.
The dorsal scales are in 19 rows, rather strongly keeled, except for the smooth outer row. The ventrals number 150–154, the subcaudals 80–100. The anal plate is divided.
Adults are about 60 cm (23½ in.) total length, of which about 19 cm (7½ in.) is tail.
Diet
The Khasi Hills keelback's nutritional intake consists primarily of toads.
Photos
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Khasi Hills Keelback
- Is the Khasi Hills Keelback venomous?
- No. The Khasi Hills Keelback (Hebius khasiensis) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Khasi Hills Keelback poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Khasi Hills Keelback is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Khasi Hills Keelback dangerous?
- The Khasi Hills Keelback is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Khasi Hills Keelback live?
- The Khasi Hills Keelback has verified records in 6 countries, including Viet Nam, Myanmar, Thailand. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Khasi Hills Keelback eat?
- The Khasi Hills keelback's nutritional intake consists primarily of toads.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Hebius
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Hebius khasiensis
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.