Xenochrophis piscator(Schneider, 1799) Checkered Keelback Water Snake	Diagnostic characters:
	A medium-sized snake with a stout heavy body, a pointed head and a rather long tail. The scales are strongly keeled and over all. Eyes has round pupil. Two bold black streaks-one below, the other from eye to angle of mouth. Dorsum glossy olive-green, olive-brown, yellow, brown, grey or black, usually with a checkered body pattern. SVL: 1200mm.
	Habit and Habitat:
	Active by day and night. Found in and around fresh water bodies and paddy fields and hunt along the edges of ponds and rice-fields
	Diet:
	Young feed on frog eggs, tadpoles, and water insects; older snakes eat fish, frogs, occasionally rodents and birds.
	Legal Protection:
	WL (P) A, 1972-Schedule II
	Conservation status and Threats:
	Not accessed. Abundant.  No serious threat observed.
	Distribution: Madhya Pradesh: Throughout. Elsewhere in India: The Whole of India