Rare Olive-Green Snake Reported in Karnataka’s B.R. Hills

A rare olive-green snake was reported from Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Hills (B.R. Hills), Karnataka, on 9 October 2026. The available details do not establish the snake’s species, the precise sighting location or the circumstances of the encounter. Several snake species in India have olive-green or olive-brown colouring, so colour alone cannot confirm identification.

B.R. Hills and Its Habitat

B.R. Hills lies in Chamarajanagar district in southern Karnataka and forms part of the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve. The reserve is situated where the Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats meet, creating a transition between the two hill systems. Its varied habitats include forests that support reptiles, mammals and birds. The sighting was reported from the B.R. Hills region, but no specific site within the hills was established. A confirmed species identification would require diagnostic features, such as scale patterns, body proportions and head markings, rather than colour alone.

Olive-Coloured Snakes in Karnataka

The olive keelback (“Atretium schistosum”) is a non-venomous, aquatic snake with olive-green or olive-brown dorsal colouring. It occurs in parts of southern India, including Karnataka. An olive keelback was documented at Huskur Lake in Bengaluru in May 2026. The olive forest snake (“Rhabdops olivaceus”) is another non-venomous species with an olive-toned upper body and records from Karnataka’s Western Ghats. It is distinct from the olive keelback in both taxonomy and habitat association. The Northern Western Ghats vine snake (“Ahaetulla borealis”) is an endemic green snake. It was photographed in forest near Yellapur, in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district, on 18 December 2025. These examples do not establish the identity of the snake reported from B.R. Hills.

Snake Classification and Identification

Snakes belong to the suborder Serpentes within the reptile order Squamata. They are ectothermic vertebrates and periodically shed their outer skin as they grow. Species identification uses observable features and, where required, expert examination.

Important Facts for Exams

• The Western Ghats are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a global biodiversity hotspot.
• The olive keelback belongs to the family Natricidae.
• The scientific name of the olive forest snake is Rhabdops olivaceus.
• The Northern Western Ghats vine snake is scientifically named Ahaetulla borealis.

The B.R. Hills sighting remains unidentified in the available details. Olive colouration occurs in more than one snake species recorded in Karnataka.