Oligodon russelius

Oligodon russelius
	Russell's Kukri from South Bengal.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Oligodon
Species:	O. russelius
Binomial name
	Oligodon russelius; (Daudin, 1803)
Synonyms
	Coluber russelius

Oligodon russelius, commonly known as Russell's kukri snake^[1] is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is very closely related to Oligodon arnensis, from which it has been recently separated. The specific epithet honours the British herpetologist Patrick Russell, one of whose illustrations possibly depicts this species.^[2]

Taxonomy

The species was recognised as a distinct species in 2022 after a morphological and biogeographical evaluation of the Oligodon arnensis species complex. The populations of Oligodon arnensis (sensu lato) in the northern regions of India has now been assigned as Oligodon russelius (sensu stricto), distinguished from the southern population, which remains Oligodon arnensis.

Ecology

Distribution

Nepal, Northern India, North-East Pakistan, and possibly parts of Bangladesh.^[3]

Feeding

It primarily feeds on eggs, and small lizards.

Reproduction

The snake is oviparous, like other colubrids. The clutch contains four or five remarkably elongate eggs with measured dimensions 36x3x10 mm and the SVLs of the hatchlings are around 181.0–193.0 mm. The hatchlings are usually brighter in colors with faded and less prominent cross stripes, but with distinct white margins. The juveniles have been mostly observed in April to July and during the winter.

Conservation

The species is of common occurrence and has a widespread range. The risk of extinction is regarded as low. The snakes often get killed by humans, particularly because of misidentification as kraits, due to the presence of bands. It is also often reported as road kills.