Care Sheet – Black Headed Royal Snake

Scientific NameSpalerosophis diadema atricepsSubspecies: diadema , atriceps , cliffordii , schiraziana Common namesBlack-headed Royal Snake, Pakistan Jewelled Ratsnake ( S. d. atriceps ) Diadem Snake , Camel Snake , Schirazi Camel Snake ( S. d. schiraziana ) , Clifford's Camel Snake ( S. d. clifordii ) , Clifford's Whip Snake ( S. d. clifordii ) ,Clifford's Diadem Snake ( S. d. clifordii ), Eastern Diadem Snake ( S. d. diadema ) , Blotched Royal Snake ( S. d. diadema ) Local NamesBou M'raiat , Ar'am , Ahmah , Raqta RangeWest Bengal, India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. In Pakistan they are distributed throughout the Province of Sindh and have been recorded from Khairpur, Larkana, Umerkot, Nagarparkar and MirpurkhasSizeAdult Length: 1.40-1.65 mHabitatUp to about 2200 metres in arid to semiarid terrain including cultivated farmland, sand and stone desert terrain. HousingVivarium 915 x 470 x 525 mm(LDH)

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DécorMinimum requirements medium water bowl, cork bark tubes or two hides one for the cool side and one for the warm. .SubstrateAspen, Beech Chippings, Newspaper.Temperature/Humidity75-85°F, Basking spot 85-90°F, low humidity.FeedingFeeds mainly on lizards, small mammals, rats and mice but will feed on young song birds and other small birdsComments**Not actually a ratsnake they are rear-fanged mildly venomous colubrids.**Medium to moderately large in length, cylindrical, moderately slender, elongate bodied snake with a medium to moderately short tail. Can grow to a maximum of about 1.88 metres but very rarely exceeds 1.30 metres. Head is elongate, somewhat triangular and distinct from neck with a rounded snout. Eyes are moderately large in size with round pupils. Dorsal scales are large and obtusely keeled. Mainly diurnal except for the hottest months when crepuscular and nocturnal activity dominates. Tends to take shelter under stones, loose rock areas, in abandoned rodent burrows or under roots of desert plants. Will immediately flee if approached and will thrash about and strike readily if cornered or provoked. Small mammals succumb quickly to the oral gland secretionDorsally they are pale buff or sandy grey, with a median series of dark blotches, and smaller dark spots. Ventrally they are usually uniform white, but rarely have small blackish spots

John Gamesby

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