Vellore Bridal Snake

The Vellore bridal snake is a small, non-venomous snake of southern India and Sri Lanka. Bridal snakes are named for the yellow band behind the head, which resembles a bridal veil. The colour is glossy black or dark brown, sometimes with irregular white or grey stripes, and the underside is creamy yellow. The eyes are large with vertical pupils, an adaptation to a nocturnal life, the snout is rounded and the head oval and flat (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is a nocturnal snake, very active but timid, and it may enter houses in search of prey. It feeds mainly on lizards but may take frogs and other small animals. Very little is known because few specimens have been found, and it is assumed to be oviparous. The longest specimens seldom exceed 50 cm. Nationally Least Concern (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012, listed as Dryocalamus nympha).