Amphiesma stolatum (Linnaeus, 1758) Striped Keel back Snake	Diagnostic characters:
	Body cylindrical; neck slightly distinct; tail pointed; eyes large Olive-greenish or brownish above with black spots or reticulated cross-bars, intersected by two dorso-lateral yellow or buff stripes; on the hinder part of the body; the stripes are best marked and the black spots least evident; head light-brown or olive above; lips and area in front of and behind eye yellowish.             SVL: 800mm.
	Habit and Habitat:
	Diurnal and terrestrial;these little and gentle snakes are quite inoffensive; frequently found in cultivated areas, grasslands and bushes and can be seen in big numbers in rains hiding in the holes in the ground.
	Diet:
	Frogs, toads and lizards
	Legal Protection:
	WL (P) A, 1972-Schedule IV
	Conservation status and Threats:
	Not accessed. Abundant.  No serious threat observed.
	Distribution: Madhya Pradesh: Throughout. Elsewhere in India: Throughout. Elsewhere outside: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Nepal