Atretium schistosum (Daudin, 1803) Olive Keelback Water Snake	Diagnostic characters:
	Body cylindrical; head slightly distinct from neck; eye with round pupil; nostril slit-like and valvular, directed upward; nasal scale not completely divided; a single internasal; scales keeled on the body; ventrals rounded and subcaudals paired. Olive-brown or greenish above; uniform or with two series of small black spots along the back; upper lip, outer row of scales and belly yellow.
	Habit and Habitat:
	Crepuscular; found in tanks and ponds; seldom found in the water and at times ascends low bushes. Inoffensive at disposition, but when alarmed forepart of the body is raised and the neck flattened.
	Diet:
	Frogs and fishes.
	Legal Protection:
	WL (P) A, 1972-Schedule II
	Conservation status and Threats:
	Least concern. Rare.  No serious threat observed.
	Distribution: Madhya Pradesh: Seoni (PTR). Elsewhere in India: Kerala, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. Elsewhere outside: Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka