The State Board for Wildlife, which will meet next week, will consider a proposal for notifying the snake as the official reptile.
About Indian Rat Snake:
It is a non-venomouscommonly seen snake which is famous for its fast crawling speed and much larger size than most of the widely distributed species found in India.
It is also known as Manja Chera and Karinchera in Kerala.
Rat Snakes are carnivorous; they also consume the hatchlings of venomous and dangerous snakes, such as cobras.
Behaviour: It is a diurnal species which shows both arboreal and terrestrial activity depending upon foraging and resting needs.
Habitat: The snake is found in diverse habitats, including forests, forest clearings and edges, open tropical dry forests, savannas, scrublands, plantations, villages and cultivated areas.
Distribution:
India, throughout South and Southeast Asia, China, Pakistan, Turkmenistan
The species is found in most parts of the country including Andaman Island.
Ecological Significance:
The species is commonly found in human habitations, plays a major role in controlling the rodent population that damages agricultural crops including grains and tubers in fields and farmlands that spread infectious diseases.
Rat snakes, also known as friends of farmers, have great conservation value.
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