Common kukri snake, Russet kukri snake
The banded kukri snake (Oligodon arnensis) is a nonvenomous colubrid found mainly in South Asia.
The Banded kukuri snake is pale brown or orange above. It has well-defined black crossbands, which vary in number and in width according to individuals and may be edged with white. An angular or transverse black band is found between the eyes, with another behind, with the apex on the frontal, and a third on the nape. Its lower surface is uniform yellowish, rarely spotted with brown, or with a brown posterior border to the ventrals.
Banded kukri snakes occur in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India (Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttaranchal, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Karnataka), Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. These snakes inhabit dry and moist forests, grasslands, shrublands, and human settlements. They can be found both in lowland and mountainous areas.
Little is known about the habits of these snakes. They are nocturnal and do their hunting at night. They live on the ground, often hiding under logs, in leaf litter, crevices, and tree-holes.
Banded kukri snakes are carnivores. Their diet includes small reptiles, bird eggs, small rodents, frogs, earthworms, insects, and larvae.
Banded kukri snakes breed in June and July. Females are oviparous and typically lay 3 to 6 eggs.
There are no major threats to this species.
According to IUCN Red List, the Banded kukri snake is locally common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
