Sri Lanka blossom krait

මල් කරවලා · mal karawala

Rhabdophis ceylonensis

Mildly venomous Endemic

An endemic keelback, not a true krait despite the name.

How to identify

1Olive body with black-and-red neck blotches

2Keeled scales

3Flattens neck when alarmed

Good to know

Mildly venomous (rear-fanged) but of little danger to people. Clean the wound and monitor.

Up to 0.6 m

Length

Diurnal

Active

Frogs and toads

Diet

Where it's found

Wet zoneHill country

Wet-zone forest, gardens and marshy ground.