Indian Wolf Snake

The Indian wolf snake (Lycodon aulicus) is a nonvenomous species native to South Asia and Southeast Asia. Often mistaken for the venomous common krait due to its similar appearance, the Indian wolf snake exemplifies Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species imitates a harmful one to deter predators. One distinguishing feature is the Indian wolf snake's loreal shield, a small scale located between its eye and nostril.

In terms of appearance, the Indian wolf snake features an elongated snout, smooth scales, and a variety of color patterns. This snake can be found in countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and parts of China. Nocturnal by nature, it is most active after dark and can be quite defensive if threatened, although it poses no venomous threat. Its diet primarily consists of lizards and frogs.

Female Indian wolf snakes tend to be larger than males. Breeding occurs just before the monsoon season, with females laying between 4 and 11 eggs that hatch around September or October. Newborn snakes measure about 14–19 cm in length. While this species is quite common in regions like India and Sri Lanka, it becomes less frequent as one moves towards southeastern India.