Wildlifeof Sri Lanka
Barred Wolf Snake
Colubrid Snakes
Photo: Harshjeet Singh Bal · CC BY 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Lycodon striatus
Basic stats
Diet
Skinks, geckos and other small lizards
Habitat
Dry regions such as semideserts and forest edges
Range
Southern Asia, from Iran and Afghanistan to Sri Lanka
Clutch size
2–4 eggs
Size
Longest adult known to Boulenger (1893): 43cm
The barred wolf snake, or northern wolf snake, is a non-venomous colubrid of southern Asia, found from Iran and Afghanistan through Pakistan, India and Nepal to Sri Lanka. It is dark brown or black above with white crossbands that are widely spaced towards the front, and the sides are streaked with white. The upper lip and underside are white. The longest adult known to Boulenger in 1893 was 43 cm. Two subspecies are recognised, one of them Lycodon striatus sinhaleyus (Wikipedia, general species account).
It prefers dry regions such as semideserts and forest edges, is nocturnal, and hides under stones by day, hunting skinks, geckos and other small lizards after dark. In India females lay a small clutch of 2 to 4 eggs in April. Nationally Least Concern (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).
Quick answers
- What does the Barred Wolf Snake eat?
- Skinks, geckos and other small lizards
- What habitat does the Barred Wolf Snake live in?
- Dry regions such as semideserts and forest edges
- Where is the Barred Wolf Snake found?
- Southern Asia, from Iran and Afghanistan to Sri Lanka
- How many eggs does the Barred Wolf Snake lay?
- 2–4 eggs
- How big is the Barred Wolf Snake?
- Longest adult known to Boulenger (1893): 43cm