Indian Wolf Snake

The Indian wolf snake, or common wolf snake, is a non-venomous snake native to South and Southeast Asia. Its colouration is variable. Early naturalists noted its resemblance to the venomous common krait, an instance of Batesian mimicry, and the presence of a loreal shield can be used to tell it from kraits. The snout is broad, much depressed and spatulate, and the upper lip is swollen (Wikipedia, general species account).

A measured specimen was about 71cm long, with an 11cm tail. It breeds before the monsoon and lays five to seven eggs, which hatch in September or October into hatchlings of 14 to 19cm. Nineteenth-century collectors reported it very common, with specimens received from Nepal, Bengal and the Himalayan foothills. The sources opened give nothing on diet.