Psammophis lineolatus (Brandt, 1838)

Binomial and Size

Psammophis lineolatus (Brandt, 1838) reaches a total body length of up to 91 cm.

Head and Muzzle Morphology

The front end of its muzzle is bluntly rounded, and its narrow head is only slightly distinct from the neck.

Head Shield Structure

The frontal shield is long and very narrow; the upper surface of the muzzle is concave, or features a longitudinal groove. The cheekbone shield is long and narrow.

Midbody Scales

There are 17 smooth scales around the midsection of the body.

Eye, Anal Flap, and Tail Morphology

This species has a large pupil, a divided anal flap, and a short tail.

Dorsal Body Coloration

The dorsal body color is olive-gray, sandy, or brownish-gray; scale edges are slightly lighter than scale centers.

Dorsal Longitudinal Stripes

Four dark longitudinal stripes with black edges run along the body; these stripes may sometimes be absent, narrow, or dotted, and they originate on the head shields.

Ventral Coloration and Markings

The belly is white, marked with grayish, brownish, or olive-gray spots that may merge into a continuous stripe running through the center of the body’s anterior third.

Common Name and Reproductive Mode

This species, commonly called the arrow snake, is oviparous.

Mating Period

Mating takes place in May and June.

Egg Characteristics and Laying Period

Females lay 3 to 11 strongly elongated eggs between late June and July; the eggs measure 30 to 55 mm long and 7.5 to 15 mm wide.

Hatchling Size and Emergence Period

Hatchlings, measuring 25 to 330 mm in body length, emerge in late July or August.