About Craspedocephalus gramineus (Shaw, 1802)
Rostral and Upper Head Scales
Description: The rostral scale of Craspedocephalus gramineus is as deep as it is broad, or broader than it is deep. The upper head scales are small, smooth, and imbricate; the supraocular scale is narrow, and rarely broken up. The internasals may be in contact with each other, or separated by one or two scales.
Supraocular and Labial Scales
There are 8 to 13 scales along a line between the two supraoculars; there are usually one or two, rarely three, series of scales between the suboculars and the labials. There are 9 to 12 upper labials; the second upper labial usually forms the anterior border of the loreal pit, and the third is the largest.
Temporal and Body Scales
Temporal scales are smooth. Dorsal scales are more or less distinctly keeled, arranged in 21 rows (rarely 19 or 23); there are 145–175 ventral scales, the anal scale is entire, and subcaudals are arranged in two rows, numbering 53–76.
Body Coloration
The upper parts of the body are usually bright green, more rarely yellowish, greyish, or purplish brown, with or without black, brown, or reddish spots. There is usually a light, white, yellow, or red streak along the outer row of scales; the end of the tail is frequently yellow or red. The lower parts of the body are green, yellow, or whitish.
Size
This species grows to a total length of 3.25 feet (0.99 m), with a tail length of 5.5 inches (14 cm).
Geographic Distribution
Geographic range: The Bamboo Pit Viper is a widespread species across peninsular India. It is also found, though very scarcely, in eastern India across Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Its type locality is "Vizagapatam, India", based on work by Russell (1796).
Habitat Preferences
Habitat: Despite its common name, this species is not particularly associated with bamboo thickets. It is an arboreal snake, usually found on low to medium-height bushes and trees, and often occurs near streams.
Daily Activity Pattern
As a nocturnal animal, it stays at lower heights to sit in ambush during the night. During daytime, these snakes climb to greater heights.
Reproductive Traits
Reproduction: C. gramineus is ovoviviparous. Adult females give birth to 6 to 11 young, which measure up to 4.5 inches (110 mm) in length at birth.
