Indian Egg-eating Snake
Elachistodon westermanni
Description
The Indian Egg-eating Snake is one of the rarest snakes in India and is the sole member of its genus. This small, specialized snake feeds exclusively on eggs, possessing unique vertebral projections that crack the eggshell as it is swallowed.
Growing to about 80 cm, this non-venomous snake has a dark brown body with a distinctive white dorsal stripe and arrow-shaped marking on its head. It was considered so rare that it was thought to be extinct until rediscoveries in several Indian states.
The Indian Egg-eating Snake is nocturnal and primarily arboreal, climbing trees and bushes to raid bird nests. After swallowing an egg, the specialized vertebral teeth crack the shell, the contents are consumed, and the compressed shell is regurgitated. This remarkable adaptation makes it one of the most specialized feeders among Indian snakes.