>Rsjaffe: /* Further reading */clean up, typo(s) fixed: 14-24 → 14–24

2021-05-04T18:52:30Z

Further reading: clean up, typo(s) fixed: 14-24 → 14–24

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{{Short description|Subspecies of snake}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2018}}
{{subspeciesbox
| image = Montane trinket snake Coelognathus helena monticollaris by Ashahar alias Krishna Khan Amravati.jpg
| image_caption = Montane trinket snake (''Coelognathus helena monticollaris'')
| genus = Coelognathus
| species = helena
| species_link = Trinket snake
| subspecies = monticollaris
| authority = ([[Klaus-Dieter Schulz|Schulz]], 1992)
| synonyms = *''Elaphe helena monticollaris'' <br>{{small|Schulz, 1992}}
*''Coelognathus helena monticollaris'' <br>{{small|— [[Romulus Whitaker|R. Whitaker]] & [[Ashok Captain|Captain]], 2004}}
| synonyms_ref =<ref>"''Coelognathus helena'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.</ref>
}}

'''''Coelognathus helena monticollaris''''' is [[subspecies]] of a non[[Venomous snake|venomous]] [[Constriction|constricting]] snake in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Colubridae]]. The subspecies is native to south [[Central Asia]].

==Description==
''C. h. monticollaris'' is a narrow-headed slender snake with a beautiful colouration. The [[Brown|light brown]] body is adorned with black and white transverse stripes, unlike ''C. h. helena'' which has dark brown and white spots. The head is greenish brown with black markings. The true purpose of this colouration is camouflage. Recently, [[albinism]] has been reported in this subspecies.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Pawar, Ravi|author2=Tayade, Rahul|author3=Gaikwad, Akshay|year=2017|title=First record of albinism in montane trinket snake ''Coelognathus helena monticollaris'' (Schulz, 1992)|journal=Cobra|volume=9|issue=2|pages=27–30|url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/First_record_of_albinism_in_montane_trinket_snake_Coelognathus_helena_monticollaris_2017_Pawar_Ravi%2C_Tayde_Rahul_and_Gaikwad_Akshay.pdf|access-date=2017-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902043208/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/First_record_of_albinism_in_montane_trinket_snake_Coelognathus_helena_monticollaris_2017_Pawar_Ravi%2C_Tayde_Rahul_and_Gaikwad_Akshay.pdf|archive-date=2017-09-02|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Habitat==
The preferred [[habitat]] of ''C. h. monticollaris'' is [[forest]]s, but it may frequently venture towards human habitation and occasionally enter human dwellings.

==Behaviour==
''C. h. monticollaris'' is [[Diurnality|diurnal]] and highly active. It has a very nasty temper and will strike repeatedly if molested. It never appreciates captivity and will resist capture with utmost tenacity until helplessly overpowered. Its bites are often very damaging due to its inward pointing teeth.

A {{convert|1|m|ft}} male specimen caught in Maharashtra, India (near Paud 09/16/13) whipped its tail when agitated. The same specimen was easily handled and carried around the collector's neck without incident.

[[File:The Montane Trinket in Threat Display.jpg|thumb|A snake exhibiting signature threat posturing]]

==Diet==
''C. h. monticollaris'' feeds mainly on small mammals. It uses its camouflage to stalk its prey and initially disorients its victim with a blitz strike. It then surrounds its prey with its coils and weakens it by biting repeatedly. The victim is finally killed by constriction and swallowed at leisure. It may also prey upon birds, frogs, lizards and other snakes as well, but shows a high preference towards small mammals. It is notorious for its voracious appetite. Captive specimens prefer mice and tend to lose interest in lizards especially if the lizards remain motionless.

==Breeding==
Very little known about the reproductive habits of ''C. h. monticollaris''. It is probably [[Viviparity|viviparous]]. Brood size unknown.

==Growth==
The smallest known specimens of ''C. h. monticollaris'' measure around {{convert|350|mm|in|abbr=on}} in total length (including tail). The average adult total length is around {{convert|1|m|ft|abbr=on}}, and the maximum is {{convert|1.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Females are longer than the males, while males have proportionately longer tails.

==Venom==
''C. h. monticollaris'' is nonvenomous. It kills instead by constriction.<ref name="WhitakerCaptain2004">{{Cite book|last=Whitaker|first=Romulus|authorlink=Romulus Whitaker|last2=Captain|first2=Ashok|authorlink2=Ashok Captain|year=2004|title=Snakes of India: The Field Guide|publisher=Draco Books. 495 pp|location=Chennai, India|isbn=81-901873-0-9}}</ref>

==Identification==
''C. h. monticollaris'' may be identified by the following key characters:
*Nine [[Labial scale|supralabials]] of which the fifth and sixth touch the eye.
*19 to 21 rows of [[dorsal scales]] two head lengths before the vent.
*[[Anal scale|Anal shield]] entire
*Nearly equally sized [[Frontal scale|frontal]] and [[Parietal scales|parietal shields]].

===Lepidosis===
*[[Rostral scale|Rostral]]: Compressed and touches six shields.
*[[Frontal scale|Frontal]]: Relatively thin and elongated.
*[[Ocular scales|Supraoculars]]: Slender and elongated being nearly as long as the frontal.
*Parietals: Each individual shield is slightly larger than the frontal.
*[[Prefrontal scales|Prefrontals]]: Highly broad as well as long.
*[[Internasal scales|Internasals]]: Touch the nostrils.
*[[Nasal scale|Nasals]]: Divided along a vertical line on which the nostril is situated.
*[[Lore (anatomy)|Loreals]]: One
*Preoculars: One
*Postoculars: Divided into two equally sized shields
*[[Temporal scales|Temporals]]: Divided into two equally sized elongated shields.
*Supralabials: Nine of which the fifth and sixth touch the eye.
*[[Mental scale|Mental]]: Stereotypic in form.
*Infralabials: Six of which the sixth is the largest.
*[[Chin shields]]: Anterior and posterior pairs equal in size, posterior pair separated from each other by smaller scales.
*Dorsal scales: Only the ultimate row is enlarged.
*[[Ventral scales|Ventrals]]: 217 to 265
*Anal Shield: Entire
*[[Subcaudal scales|Subcaudals]]: 74 to 97, divided.

===Dentition===
*[[Maxilla]]ry: 19 to 25
*[[Palatine bone|Palatine]]: 10 to 14
*[[Pterygoid bone|Pterygoid]]: 15 to 30
*[[Mandible|Mandibular]]: 22 to 30

==Geographic range==
''C. h. monticollaris'' is found in the [[Western Ghats]] of [[India]].<ref>Das (2002).</ref> 

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

*{{EMBL species|genus=Coelognathus|species=helena}}

==Further reading==
*[[:fr:Indraneil Das|Das I]] (2002). ''A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of India''. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. {{ISBN|0-88359-056-5}}. (''Coelognathus helena monticollaris'', p. 32).
*Schulz, Klaus-Dieter (1992). "''Die geographischen Unterarten der Indischen Schmucknatter'' Elaphe helena ''(Daudin, 1803)'' ". ''Salamandra'' '''28''' (1): 14–24. (''Elaphe helena monticollaris'', new subspecies). (in German).

{{Taxonbar|from=Q5353475}}

[[Category:Rat snakes]]

Coelognathus helena monticollaris - Revision history

>Rsjaffe: /* Further reading */clean up, typo(s) fixed: 14-24 → 14–24