Indian Egg Eating Snake (Elachistodon westermanni)

[Prathamesh Ghadekar]

This is one of the rarest Snakes in India. It was considered as an extinct species for almost 100 years until it's recent rediscovery in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Only two species of Egg Eating Snake roam the world, the other being African Egg Eater. These snakes have a more than normal ability of stretching their jaws.

[Mrudul Godbole]

Nice you could photograph this rare species of the snake. Nice eye contact. Is this a crop? Please post the EXIF details. Where was this photographed? Thanks for sharing.

[Prathamesh Ghadekar]

It is cropped 16 % from Left side and 5 % from the Top. This picture was captured in the Border region of Nagpur and Wardha districts. :)

[Atul Sinai]

Prathamesh, nice image. Good eye contact and composition. Thanks for sharing.

[Prathamesh Ghadekar]

Thanx Atul Sinai :001_smile:

[Roopak Gangadharan]

Nice to see this rare species.thanx for sharing the info

Rgds
Roopak

[Prathamesh Ghadekar]

thanx Roopak :001_smile:

[Abhishek Jamalabad]

Nice. This is one species that's on my wishlist. Can you describe its habitat?

[Prathamesh Ghadekar]

A dry climate species as it is referred to...E.westermannis r only recorded from sum parts in Maharashtra and very few records from Gujarat which need confirmation. It is a nocturnal colubrid feeding on Eggs and having a liking for bird eggs. Rescue calls hav recorded these snakes to be arboreal too reaching upto 12 feet on a tree, probably in search of it's diet.

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Good to see this species. How did you find it?

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Prathamesh Ghadekar]

It was a rescued specimen..... A healthy male.