What is Sahyadriophis uttaraghati?

About Sahyadriophis uttaraghati:

• The new genus has been named Sahyadriophis, a combination of the Sanskrit word for the Western Ghats ‘Sahyadri’ and the Greek word for snakes ‘Ophis’.
• The new species, located in the northern part of the Western Ghats, is called Sahyadriophis uttaraghati or Northern Sahyadri keelback. 
• Features:
  • These snakes are mostly active during monsoons and are often found near streams.
  • Their diet primarily consists of frogs and their eggs. 
  • These snakes are gentle in nature and rarely bite when handled.
  • The juveniles bear a big blotch or a collar mark on the nape, which distempers as the animal grows. 
  • It can be differentiated from its southern counterpart—Sahyadriophis beddomei (Beddome’s Sahyadri keelback)—by a longer tail and higher number of scales on the tail's underside, known as subcaudals.

What are colubrid snakes?

• A colubrid is any of the numerous, diverse, largely nonvenomous snakes that comprise the reptile family Colubridae.
• The Colubridae family is one of the largest snake families, consisting of over 1,800 species.
• They are characterised by the absence of hind limbs. 
• They are found in various regions around the world, except for Antarctica and some remote oceanic islands.
• Habitats: They inhabit a wide range of environments, including forests, grasslands, deserts, wetlands, and aquatic habitats.
• Venom:
  • The majority of colubrid snakes are non-venomous.
  • However, there are a few exceptions within the Colubridae family, such as the rear-fanged snakes, which possess mild venom but are not considered dangerous to humans.
• Among well-known colubrids are king snakes, watersnakes, milk snakes, gartersnakes, racers, ratsnakes, ring-necked snakes, hog-nosed snakes, and the venomous boomslangs.