''Spalerosophis arenarius'', commonly known as the red-spotted diadem snake or the red-spotted royal snake, is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of snake in the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...

Colubrinae The Colubrinae are a subfamily of snakes within the family Colubridae. It includes numerous genus, genera, and although Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic sources often disagree on the exact number, the Reptile Database lists 717 species in 92 genera ...

of the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Colubridae Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from , 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest fossil species of the family date back to the Late Eocene epoch, with earlier origins suspected. C ...

. The species is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

South Asia South Asia is the southern Subregion#Asia, subregion of Asia that is defined in both geographical and Ethnicity, ethnic-Culture, cultural terms. South Asia, with a population of 2.04 billion, contains a quarter (25%) of the world's populatio ...

Geographic range

''S. arenarius'' is found in

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

(

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...

) and

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

(

Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...

Sindh Sindh ( ; ; , ; abbr. SD, historically romanized as Sind (caliphal province), Sind or Scinde) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. Located in the Geography of Pakistan, southeastern region of the country, Sindh is t ...

Description

''S. arenarius'' grows to a total length (including tail) of about 1 m (39 inches).

Dorsally Standard anatomical terms of location are used to describe unambiguously the anatomy of humans and other animals. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position provi ...

, it is cream-colored or pale buff, with darker spots arranged quincuncially. There is also a darker stripe on each side of the neck. Ventrally, it is uniform white. Boulenger GA (1893). ''Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume I., Containing the Families ... Colubridæ Aglyphæ, part.'' London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiii + 448 pp. + Plates I-XXVIII. (''Zamenis arenarius'', p. 413 + Plate XXVIII, figure 2).

Reproduction

''S. arenarius'' is

oviparous Oviparous animals are animals that reproduce by depositing fertilized zygotes outside the body (i.e., by laying or spawning) in metabolically independent incubation organs known as eggs, which nurture the embryo into moving offsprings kno ...

. They do hibernate in the season of December to February and pairs start to mate in late March to April. Eggs are laid from May to July. A female weighing above 250 grams can produce a clutch of 7 to 10 eggs. A female finds a good spot for the incubation of eggs with a temperature of 28°-30 °C and humidity around 80-95%. A female lays and burrow its eggs at the laying site, no parental care is observed. Each eggs weigh around 7 grams. eggs take around 60 days to hatch. babies are 15 cm in length and feeds on lizards or small rodents at the first stage of their life. Female red spotted diadem in captivity

In Captivity

Red spotted diadems are common in pet trade in Pakistan for their docile nature and their attractive color and pattern. In Pakistan they can be seen with snake charmers or individuals who keep them as their pets.

Breeding in captivity

Breeding red spotted diadem is easy in captivity but requires some simple steps. They require a proper cycle which contains cooling them in winters. Pair is heavily fed till November and left to hibernate. During their hibernation period you just have to leave a water bowl in their enclosure and a hiding spot. no light or heat source was used in this period. In February when temperature starts to increase you can offer them light to let them know its time to feed. when they are active again start offering them small meals and increase the frequency of offering meals to them to make them gain weight again. Captive Born specimen

When they shed for the first time after hibernation its time to introduce them to each other but make sure to check their weights before it. A female should weight at least 250 grams or above and for a male at least 200 grams is preferred. Introducing them more than one time to make sure the pair has been successfully mated. Introducing them at night will help the chances of the pair to mate. copulation takes place for 25–20 minutes after it you can again separate the pair when the lose interest in each other.

Preparing an Incubator

A simple plastic air tight container can be used for the purpose of incubation. In lid small tiny holes are made for ventilation. equal amount of perlite and distilled water is mixed to make it moist. When pressed it should not drain water from it. put a humidity and temperature meter. a humidity of 80-90% is required. Temperature ranges from 28°-30 °C. Place eggs in incubator without turning them. If you want you can candle them to make sure they are alive. Slugs or infertile eggs will turn yellow and catch mold, immediately remove them from your clutch. You should open your incubator after couple of days for 2 minutes for air exchange because eggs respire and you don't want them to die. After 54–60 days eggs will start to hatch. When your baby snakes are done with their first shed you can offer them a pinky mice