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4. CLASSIFICATION
Considering the birds and mammals, reptiles are far
less developed animals but well developed than fishes and
amphibians. The snakes come under the Class Reptilia of
Phylum Vertebrata. Reptiles possess the skin typically
covered with horny scales, usually without epidermal glands;
teeth present on the jaws, replaced many times in continuous
succession; heart with two auricles and incompletely divided
ventricle (except in crocodiles where division is virtually
complete), cold blooded; no diaphragm separating thorax and
abdomen except in crocodiles; eggs large, yolky, cleidoic
and always laid on land, internal fertilization.
Class Reptilia is divided into four orders viz.
Rhenchocephal ia, Testudinata, (=Chelonia), Squamata and
Crocodilia. The animals belonging to Squamata possess the
skin covered with cutaceous scales, covered with a thin horny
epidermis which is periodically shaded in pieces or entire.
The skull is basically diapsid with both upper and lower
temporal fossae.' Jacobson's organs are usually well
developed and are completely separated from the nasal cavity.
The cloacal aperature is transverse and a pair of hemipenis
39
is present in male. lhe vertebrae are procoelous. Squamata
is further divided into three suborders viz. Sauria or
Lecertilia (lizards), Amphisbaenia (limb less lizards), and
OphIdia (snakes).
The order OphIdia is turther divided into thirteen
families, in three infraorders on the basis of carotid arches
and optic foramen viz., Scolecophidia, Henophidia and
Caenophidia. Out of thirteen families twelve families viz.,
Typhlopidae, Leptotyphlopidae, Uropeltidae, Boidae,
Xe nope 1 t idae, Ac rochord idae, Dipsad i ae, Natricidae,
Colubridae, Homalopsidae, Elaphidae and Viperidae are
represented in India except Aniliidae. Today more than 2500
species of snakes are known from the world, predominating in
the warmer regions and entirely absent in artic circles. Only
242 species of snakes are known from India. Gujarat state is
very poorly represented by snake fauna; previous records
count only 44 species. To this number, I have added 8
species as new records for the first time making a total of
52. Here in this work I have collected and studied 43 species
from GUjarat, only 5 species of Elapidae (Oph;ophagus
mamillaris, H •
Microcephalophis gracilis M. cantoris and Lapemis curtus),
and 3 species of Colubridae (Argyrogena ventromaculatus,
Psammophis condanarus and Dendrolaphis pictus) are not
collectid by me during my studies.
The present system of classification of snakes is
entirely based on the external characters, internal anatomy
and osteological characters. It is felt that some more
40
groups can be separated, if a detailed studies made on the
chromosomes, blood serra and ethological characters and
incorporated for their identification.
The first systematic work on snakes was publ ished by
Laurenti (1768) from external structural features only.
L i non a e u s (I 7 7 6) pub lis h e d his c1 ass if i cat ion 0 f all the
living species and decided the basic
work. Some of the pioneer workers
1801), Daudin (1802-1803) and Dumeril
criteria for systematic
named, Schneider (1799-
and Bibron (1802-1803)
have classified snakes on external structures and body
shapes. After that, Schlege (1837) published "Essai sur la
Pysionomic de Serpens' in two volumes, where he used
characters of visceral anatomy for classification of snakes.
Later Dumeril (1853) classified snakes on the basis of skull
and in particular dentition. This was the beginning of the
modern classification system of snakes. Cope (1900) added
some important characters such as vertebral hypapophysis,
hemipenial structure and lungs for the purpose.
Smith (1926) classified snakes on the basis of previous
workers, with some more characters added and pro'vided a
simple key for identification. Hoffstetter (1955) studied
living and fossil forms of snakes and divided living snakes
into three major groups, viz., Scolecophidia, Hemophidia and
Caenophidia. This was followed with minor modifications by
Romer (1956) and Underwood (1967). Here, I have followed the
system of classification used by Underwood (1967).
SUBORDER
Serpentes Linnaeus,
Ophidia Macartney,
Ophidia Boulenger,
Ophidia Romer,
Serpents Smith
41
OPHIDIA Linnaeus
1758, ~. Nat. ( 10 t h Ed.), I : 24
1802, in Ross.Tranl.Cuvier's Lect.
Compo Anat., 1 : 111
1890, Fauna Brit. India, 232
1933, Vertebrate Palaeontology, :439
1943, Fauna Bri t. India, ~., &
Amph i., II I 39
Serpents Webb et. al., 1978, Guide ~ Living ~., :120
Characters The body is greatly elongated and the tail of
moderate to variable length, body is covered with scales. No
limbs or girdles, except in some forms where the hind limbs
and pelvic girdles are vestigial. The eyel ids are fused to
form a transparent spec tac Ie over the eye. N ic t i ta t ing
membrane is absent. The remi of the mandibles are joined by
elastic tissue. The tongue is completely retractile within a
sheath and is used in conjunction with Jacobon's organ. The
teeth are sharp and recurved and replaced in perpetual
succession. Palatal bones are movably attached to the skull,
thereby increasing the gap during {he swallowing of large
prey. The upper and lower temporal arches arc absent and
number of bones in the skull are reduced.
reduced or absent.
Distribution Cosmopolitan
One lung is
1.
2 .
KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF OPHIDIA
Eyes vestigial, body worm like, covered with uniform scales, tail very short ...
Eyes exposed, body not worm covered with different scales, in both the jaws ...
like, teeth
Teeth only in upper jaw, body scales in 16 to 36 rows
42
• •• 2
• •• 3
TYPHLOPIDAE
Teeth only in lower jaw, body scales in 14 rows LEPTOTYPHLOPIDAE
3 • Ventrals not distinct, body with loose skin and very small scales, tail short and feebly compressed ...
Ventrals more or less dist inct and enlarged
4. Vestiges of hind limbs terminating in a c law I ike spur a teach s ide of the vent
5.
6.
7 •
Vestiges of limbs absent
Round the body scales 19 to 23
~ound the body scales mere than 40
Tail short and ~overed with shields
Tail short and covered with round the body scales 14
scales,
Tail long or moderate or compressed and covered with scales
No poison fangs in front of jaw
Poison fangs in front of jaw
...
...
D AGROCHORDINAE
~
• •• 4
5
6
... ANILIDAE
BOIDAE
UROPELTIDAE
XENOPELTIDAE
• •• 7
8
9
8 .
9.
Simplex retina, hemipenis symmetrical ...
Simplex simple over to
retina, hemipenis asymmetrical, sulcus spermaticus passing
left side of hemipenis
Duplex retina, alevator angulioris muscle present, pupil usually round
Duplex retina, alevator angul ioris muscle absent, pupil usually vertical, usually ophisthoglyphos
Pupil vertical, large curved tubular fan~olenoglyph type.
Pupil round, grooved fang proteroglypha type
43
NATRICIDAE
COLUBRIDAE
DIPSADIDAE
HOMOLOPS IDAE
VIPERIDAE
•. • ELAPIDAE
Typhlopsidae Gray,
Typhlopidae Smi th,
FAMILY I TYPHLOPIDAE
1845, Cat, Liz. London, 130
1943, Fauna Amphi. ,
Brit. India, 1TI: 41
44
&
Typhlopidae Underwood, 1967, Cont. Classi. Snakes, London, :61
Characters : Most archaic surviving family with primitive
features. Palatomaxillary arch is incomplete, the ectopteri-
goid either present or absent, the maxilla more or less
transverse and loosely attached to the skull, teeth directed
backward, supratemporal absent or rudimentary, mandible with
coronoid bone toothless, quadrate elongated, directed
horizontally forward. Pelvic reduced to a single bone or
absent. The left lung absent. Body cyl indrical of same
diameter throughout, covered with uniform cycloid scales.
Eyes are vestigial and covered by enlarged shields.
Distribution Maxico, Central and South America, West
Indies, Africa, Southern Europe, Madagascar, Austral ia,
Pacific Islands, South West Asia and several of the Indian
Oceanic Islands.
Genus 1 RAMPHOTYPHLOPS Fitzinger
Ramphotyphlops Fitzinger,
Ramphotyphlops St imson et. ~.',
1843, ~. ~.,
1977, Bull. Zool. '3"3': 2 0'4 -
24
Nomec 1. ,
Characters Head not dist inct from neck, with large
rostral, nasal, ocular and Ilreocular shields; four
45
supralabials. Eyes distinct in the ocular shields or at its
junction with supraocular. scales highly glossy and in 20
rows at the midbody. Body cylindrical. tail very short.
terminating in a stiff spike.
Distribution Oriental Region. Malaya Peninsula. Indo-
China. Common in India.
1 RAMPHOTYPHLOPS BRAMINA (Daudin)
(Common blind snake)
Eryx braminus Daudin.
Typhlops braminus Boulenger.
Eryx braminus Wall.
Typhlops fletaneri Wall.
Typhlops braminus Smith.
Typhlops braminus Deoras.
Typhlops bramina Whitaker.
Typhlops bramina Daniel.
1803. Hist. Nat. ~ .• VII -.---z7 9
1890. Fauna Bri t. India. : 236
1907.~. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc •• 18 : 10-4-
19 1 9. J. Bomb a y Nat. His t . Soc .• 26 : 55-6-
1943. Fauna Brit.India. ~. & Amph i.. II I : 46
1965. Snakes of India.: 45
1978. Common Indian Snakes.:3
19B3. Indian Reptiles. : 64
Ramphotyphlops bramina Murthy. 1985. The Snakes. 17 : 58
Specimens Examined: Vadodara. Dist. Vadodara.
5.5.1988; 1 ~. Indroda. Dist. Gandhinagar. 10.6.1989; 1 Q.
Sulpaneshvar Sancluary, Sagai. Dist. Bharuch. 12.6.1989; 1 <;2,
Saputara. Dist.<Dangs. 15:6.1989; 1 ~. Thaltej. Ahrnedavad. ,
Dist. Ahmedavad. 26.8.1989; 1 Q. Sasan. Dist. Junagadh,
16.3.1990.
46
Measurements Total body length 5.0-]8.7 em, snout to vent
4.8-18.4 em, tail 0.2-0.3 cm.
Characters : Body worm 1 ike, long cyl indrical, eyes very
small, head not distinct from neck, tail very short with a
fine point. Snout rounded, strongly projecting, nostrils
lateral, rostral l/3rd to 1/4th the breadth of the head, not
extending upto the level of the eye, nasals divided, ocular
and preocular subequal in breath, both a little shorter than
the posterior nasal. Eyes dist inct, in the ocular shield or
at its junction with supraocular, lower edge of ocular shield
wedged inbetween 3rd and 4th labials, prefrontal in cor.tact
with rostral. The body diameter is 30 - 45 times more than
the total body length; 20 scales round the body, 290 320
transverse rows of scales. Body colour brown or blackish,
light below. Snout, lower jaw and anal region pink or
whitish.
Habits and Habitat: Active at night, hide under stones, dry
leaves, dead wood, bark and logs during day. Commonly found
near moist places, ofter found from gardens and houses.
Breeding Parthenogensis is reported. One female was
under observations and found that it layed two eggs on
May, 1990. The average size of eggs was 1.48 x 0.44 cm.
kept
12th
D,istribution,: World's most widely distributed species. Very
common in Gujarat (Map 4).
"
Typhlops Oppel.
Typhlina Wagler.
Genus 2 TYPHL,IIVA Oppel
1811. Ordn. ~ •• : 54
1830. S y s t. Amph i.. : I 96
47
Typhinalis Gray. 1845. Cat. Liz. Brit. Mus •• : 134
Gryptotyphlops Peters. 1881. Sitz. Ges. Nat. Fro.. 70
Typhlops Boulenger. 1890. Fauna Brit. India.: 235
Typhlops Smith. 1943. Fauna Brit.India. ~.& Amphi.. III: ~
Characters: Body worm like. head not distinct from neck.
mouth small. inferior. tail extremely short. large rostral.
nasal. ocular and preocular shields; four supralabials are
constant for all the species. Nasal sheilds more or less
completely divided into anterior and lower. the cleft passing
through the nostril; the lower cleft is always present. the
upper mayor may not be.
Distribution South Europe. Africa. AustralIa. Tropical
America. West Indies. Maxico. Madagascar. South Asia and
India.
2 TYPHLlNA PORRJ~CTUS Stol iczka
(Slender blind snake)
Typhlops porrectus Stoliczka. 1871. J. Asiat. 426
Soc. Bengal. 2
Typhlops porrectus Boulenger. 18~0. Fauna Brit. India. : 240
Typhlops mackinnoni Wall. 1910. .::!..Bombay Na t. Hist • Soc •• 19 : 805
Typhlops venningi Wa 11. 1913. .::!..Bombay Nat. Hist • Soc. , 22 : 515
Typhlops porrectus Smi th. 1943. Fauna Br i t. India. ~. & Amph~ III : 46
48
Specimens Examined I ~, Ajwa, Dist. Vadodara, 3.3.1989; I
~, Magri Ghat, Gir forest, Sasan, Dist. Junagadh, 14.5.1989;
I c;1, Khodiyar, Dist. Bhavnagar, 21. 7.1989; I ~, Vasad, Dist.
Kheda, 14. I. 1991 •
Measurements : Total body length 6.0-12.5 cm, snout to vent
5.7 - 11.7 cm, tail 0.3 - 0.8 cm.
Characters : Body worm like, scales smooth and shiny, head
not distinct from neck, eyes very small, tail very short and
pointed. Snout rounded, strongly projecUng, nostrils lateral,
breadth of rostral 1/3rd to 1/2nd of head, not extending upto
the level of the eye; nasal
passing from the 2nd labial
ocular and preoculaG shorter
fairly distinct, in ocular
incompletely divided, the suture
to the nostril or just beyond,
than the poster ior nasal. Eyes
or at its junction with the
supraocular; lower edge of ocular wedged inbetween the 3rd
and 4th labials, prefrontal in contact with the rostral; tail
ending in a fine point. Body diameter is contained 50 60
times of the total length; 18 scales round the body, total
400 - 440 rows of transverse scales. Body colour light 'brown
to dark brown, paler below. Snout chin and anal region
us u a 11 y wh it ish.
Habits and Habitat Nocturnal, hide under the stones, dry
leaves,"bark and logs during the day. Commonly found near the
moist places.
49
Distribution : P a k i s tan toN 0 r t h Burma (t h r 0 ugh 0 u t f 0 0 t
hills of Himalaya), Sri Lanka and India. Common in Gujarat.
(Map 4).
3 TYPHLJ~ ACUTUS (Dumeril & Bibson.)
(Beaked blind snake)
Onchocephalus acutus Dum.& Bib. 1844, Eurp. Gen.,VI : 33
Typhlops acutus Bulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. I nd i a , : 241
T1:phlops acutus Annandale, 1904, J. Asiat. So c . , Bengal, 173 : 208
T1:phlops acu~tus Wall, 1943, J. Bomba1: Nat. Hist. Soc. , 16 : 29-2-
T1:phlops acutus Sm i th, 1943, Fauna Brit.India, ~. & Amph~ III : 56
T1:ph Ii" 0- acutus Daniel, 1983, Indian Reptiles, 65
Specimens Examined 1.9., Saputara, Dist. Dangs, 3.3.1988,
ColI. C. B. Jalha; 1 ~, Duldha Village, Dist. Dangs,
28.10.1992 ColI. A. S. Pathan.
Measurements Total body length 36.3 - 57.0 cm, snout to
vent 35.7 - 56.2 cm, tail 0.6 - 0.8 cm.
Characters: Body long, cylindrical; head not distinct from
neck, snout painted beack like, tail very short and pointed.
Rostral very large, projecting strongly and pointed like
hook, covering most of the head above, extended posteriorly
upto the level of eye. Nostril close to the rostt;al, the
suture passing from it to the 2nd labial, the anterior
nasal being extremely small, a long, narrow preocular,
subocular in contact with 3rd and 4th supralabials. 28 - 32
50
scales round the body, transverse rows of scales 455 - 500;
tail ending in a small spine. Body colour brownish or
blackish, paler below, dorsal and lateral scales with a pale
yellow centre (Plate 4, a).
Habits and Habitat Burrowing habits, commonly found near
moist places such as gardens, under leaves, bark, stones and
dead wood. Active during nights and remain cancealed during
the day.
Distribution: South of Gangetic plains and Peninsular India.
Common in Dangs Forests, Dist. Dangs and Dhrangadhra, Dist.
Surendranagar, GUjarat (Map 4).
Uropeltacea Muller,
Uropeltidae Gray,
Family II UROPELTIDAE
1832, Zeitschar Physiol., IV : 270
1845, Gat. Liz. London, 140
Uropeltidae Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 251
Uropeltidae Procter, 1924, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 8 : 142
Uropeltidae Underwood, 1967, Gont. Glassi. Snake, London,: 64
Characters The ectopterygoid is present connecting
pterygoid with maxilla, the premaxilla fused with the
maxilla, premaxilla without teeth, the coronoid is present in
the lower jaw, no odontoid process of axis, no anterior
hypapophyses, no pelvic vestiges, levator anguli oris muscle
present. Head not distinct from neck, eyes with round pupil.
Body cylindrical, rigid, tail very short and ends in a large
rough, naked disc or shield. Hemipenis simple, with simple
sulcus, smooth, longitudinally plicate, papillose or spinose
but without calyces. Left tung vestigial or absent.
The uropeltids (shield tailed snakes) are only found in
South India and Sri Lanka. They have not been reported from
Bombay to nothern region of Western Ghats and any other
region of Indian subcontinent. Only Uropeltis ellioti ranges
from Western Ghats upto Eastern Ghats in South India. All the
Indian species are very common in Western Ghats. In all 44
species belonging to 8 genera are described, out of which 33
species of 7 genera are reported from India.
52
This family is being reported for the first time from
Saputara Hills, Dist. Dangs, which are forming the Northern
most end of Western Ghats in Gujarat State.
Distribution : Very restricted distribution, only South
India and Hills of Sri Lanka.
Genus 3 UROPELTIS Cuvier
Urope It is Cuvier, 1829, Regne An im. , II : 76
Uropeltis Fitzinger, 1843, ~. ~., : 24
Silybura Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Br i t. India, : 257
Uropeltis Smi th, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & Amph i . , III : -n-
Characters Eyes in the ocular shield, no supraocular,
temporal and mental groove. Tail cylindrical or obliquely
truncate, the terminal scute ends into a bified structure or
simply a pointed end where the tail end is oblique.
This genus is also being recorded for the first time
from Gujarat as stated for the family.
Distribution Hills of Peninsular India and Sri Lanka.
4 UROPELTIS ELLIOTI (Gray)
(Elliot's Shield tail)
S i 1 u b 0 u r a, ell i 0 t i G r-a y , 1858, Proc. Zool. Soc. V:262
London,
Silybura el1ioti Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, : 265
Silyboura ellioti Wall, 1923, J. Bombay Na t. Hist. So c . , 29 : 357
Uropelt is ellioti Smith, 1943, Fauna Bri t. India, ~, &
Amp hi. -;--If I : 75
53
Spec imens Examined 3 ~, 1 0, Saputara Hills, Dist. Dangs,
31.8.1989.
Measurements Total body length 12.1 22.7 cm, snout to
vent 11.6 - 21.7 cm, tail 0.5 - 1.0 cm.
Characters Body cylindrical, head not distinct from neck,
eves with round pupil, tail very short and covered with
shields. Body scales in 17 rows, ventrals 146 - 169, broader
than the adjacent scales, caudals 8 11. Tail obliquely
truncate, the truncate portion is disc like, covered with
thick bi, tri or penta carinate scale, terminal scute large
and depressed, ending in a transverse ridge with two points.
Body colour dark brown with purpleblue tint and small yellow
spots on allover the body, a single yellow line on each side
of the neck, a yellow stripe on both the sides of the tail,
forming a transverse bar across the anal region (Plate 4, b).
Habits and Habitat During the rainy season very active at
night after comming out of the tunnel. Found under the
stones, dead wo::>d and dry leaves. Also lives under the
fertile loose soil and in the tunnels of earthworms. Moves
very quickly. During my collections I have observed that this
snake, earthworm and snake skink
together in the same tannel.
lizard (Rhipo =.E') lived
This species is being recorded for the first time from
Gujarat as stated for the fam'J.y.
PLATE 4
a. Beaked worm snake (Typhlina acutus).
b. Elliot's Shieldtail (Uropeltis ellioti).
, c. Bombay Shieldtail (Uropeltis macroleps)
. . ,"
·~.
, '~~/. ~.\: , .
PLATE
a
, >i . ~ )~'.,;;.',~:"
.. , ;.:.
b
c
" "~,, nll-~ot'l~ 'It"\-(I'" &1
II" 'l.le4.,,_
54
Distribution South India; COnDlon in Western and Eastern
Ghats, common at Satpura Hills, District Dangs, Gujarat
(Map 4).
5 UROPELTIS MACROLEPIS (Peters)
(Bombay shield tailed)
Silybura macroleEis Peters,
Silybura macroleEis Gunther,
Silybura macroleEis Boulenger,
UroEeltis macroleEis Smith,
1861 , SerE· Fam. UroEeltidae, : 905
1864, ~. Brit. India, 189
1890, Fauna Brit. India, 269
1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & AmEh~III : 79
Specimen Examined 1 ~, Saputara Hill, Dist. Dangs,
28.10.1987, ColI. C. B. Jhala.
Measurements Total body len'gth 26.6 cm, snout to vent 25.0
cm, tail 1.6 cm.
Characters: Body cylindrical, head not distinct from neck,
snout rounded with moderate sized eyes with round pupil, tail
shnrt. Body scales in 15 rows, ventrals 125, caudals 8, end
of the tail with bicarinate scale, forming a flat oblique
disc, terminal caudal scute large an? depressed with two
points. Body colour dark brown with broad yellow stripes on
both the sides from the 1 ips to the neck. Belly with large
yellow colour spots throughout the body length. A yellow
orange stripe on each lateral sides of the tail (Plate 4, c).
Habits and Habitat Snakes are active during the rainy
season and come out from the tannel at night. Found under the
stones and logs.
55
This species is being recorded for the first time from
Gujarat as stated for the faimly.
Distribution: Western Ghats, Bombay Hills and Mahabaleshwar,
Maharashtra, Saputara, Dist. Dangs, Gujarat (Map 4).
~4°
23 0
22 0
21 0
20 0 I
68 0 o o 720 o o
GUJARAT STATE. .,. -~--- BANASKANTHA - -\ N -~Lr7:~-r:: p.l.npu' • ) ~ -, A-- -::::-0 ----- .""'- {
_._.lt~:c ~}i'·~·:~~ =~~:~1~~'i'i1;?!1~~" J} '~( . -- - ---~~::-=~::--::--==~ ~--=~ -)i--= ;: AGiSM... 'SAllARKANTHA ~ :;..>-~::=::~~ -- : ~--:--::--:-=::.:-- -=-= :::.~r- .'
I ----- _-:::.::::--~ i .H;ma'nagar
III R.
... T.
A- T.
0 U.
• U.
~ "'-=-- -- -- , - - t-_ -'".o --- =.:-:: _', ..t-"<"-f\ ! :"
- - - :: ~ ,;: ~ =-=- - / ./ .~~.,-., -~:...
bramina
porrectus
acutus
e I I i 0 t i
macrolepis
~--.::=---- , . '.11' \ ,', KAQ<Ht -= -: -= -= = ~_-~ -:_ '(~ :' CA.\lOti I NACAf\ .. _J. .... -\ ..i :;-~
to Ill", _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ . ~ •. _ ... , _.- _; J , • __ " ___ ' ...' ,
\ .~ -. ) / ! Nl.EDABAD ~ __ ... -. /
l • ""! ,..! .-i. \ J.., . '-.-..... S~GAA" ~ I "
.. } ~.) ~ ,., L ..... -.. _" KHE.OA r"
O"'-J ,--'
• GOdhra
.-.. .....-. i • \
(,'" • -, \'~.-~. . ~- I '-"; I
;, .... • .. .('---V .... l... " . \. ,..- \
j (': ~ . ... _ ................. " ,-"--to '. )0_";.. • ....
JA\NACAR ~ ~tJT v !
'··.J·f_~ ,._~<r(·-·--·\; r./-{·-'- .. ) '.
A\RELI .BHAVNAGAR
..
~ -, ,/ ... ~ .-.' "--'. .,; :'.' 'j .
~ /_~l . . { I •
J • c t .. __ ., "-"1 1
Jl.t<AGADH
-",
~ . .-...)
(~ •
\''-: ....
MA P L,
"
VAOO~
... ~.' -,_ .... ,l ... -~ --.... .. -.----.
• BHARUO • .. r
'"
68 0
Distribution 69 0 70 0
Raphotyphlophs bramina, and O. macroiepis.
7t o 72 0
Typhl ina porrectus, T. 73 0
acutus, 74 0
Uropeltis ellioti
o
, " '.
, ,
25°
24 0
23 0
22°
21 0
20 0
Family III BOlDAE
Boidae Gray, 1842, Zool. Misc., : 41
Boidae Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, : 234
Boidae Beddard, 1904, Proc. Zool. Soc. , 2 : 107
Boidae Smi th, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & AmEhi. , III : 102
Boidae Underwood, 1967, Cont. Classi. Snakes, London, 67
Boidae McDowell, 1967, Snake Ecol. Evol. BioI., : 29
Characters Palatomaxillary arch complete, premaxillary
teeth present or absent, the coronoid is typically present in
lower jaw, vestiges of the pelvic remain and hind limbs
appear as claw like spurs on of the cloacal
aperture; anterior hypapophyes and levator anguli oris muscle
present or absent. The faimily has been divided into three
subfamilies - (1) Loxoceminae (2) Pythoninae and (3) Boinae.
Distribution The tropical and subtropical regions of the
world.
KEY TO THE SUBFAMILIES OF BOlDAE
1. Supraorbital bone separate ••• ••• 2
Supraorbital bone not separate BOINAE
2. Levator anguli oris muscle present LOXOCEMINAE
Levator anguli oris muscle absent PYTHONINAE
57
Subfamily BOINAE
Boine Gray, 1842, Zoo 1. Misc., 41
Boinae Frazzetta, 1959, Bull. Mus. Compo Zool., 199 : 453
Boinae Underwood, 1967, Cont. Classi. Snakes, London,: 70
Boinae Seigel et. ~, 1987, Snakes Ecol. Evol. BioI., 29
Characters: No separat supraorbital bone, premaxillary teeth
absent, lacrimal foramen not enclosed by prefrontal, palatine
foramen not enclosed within palatine; levator anguli oris
muscle absent. Ovoviviptous. I-
Distribution
Eryx Daudin,
Africa, Australia, Europe, South-East Asia.
Genus 4 ERYX Daudin
1803, Mag. Ency. Anim., 8 : 437 and Hist. Nat. Rept., VII 251
Gongylophis Wagler, 1830, ~. Amphi., 192
Eryx Boulenger,
Eryx Smith,
Characters
1890, Fauna Brit. India, 247
1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & Amphi., III III
Anterior maxillary and mandibular teeth very
long. Head not distinct from neck, covered with small scales
except on the snout. Eyes small or very small with vertically
ellipt ic pupil. Body cylindrical, stout with small scales,
tail very short, subcaudal usually single. Mental groove
usually present. No genials.
Distribution Africa, South-West Asia to Eastern Europe,
Western China and India.
58
6 ERYX JOHN! JOHN! (Russell)
(Red sand boa; John's sand boa)
Boa -- johnii Russell, 180 I , I nd. Serp. , II : 18 & 20
Eryx johnii Boulenger, 18~0, Fauna Brit. India, : 248
Eryx johnii Wall, 19 II , J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. , 20 : 1033
Eryx jaculus var.johnii Ingoldby, 1923, J. -Bombay Nat. Hi st.
Soc. , 29 : 127
Eryx jaculus var.johnii Wall, 192 3, l·Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 29 : 253.
Eryx jaculus Prater, 1924, J. Bombay Nat.Hist. Soc.,30:166
Eryx johni johni Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. Amph i. , lIT : 113
Eryx johni Whitaker, 1978, Common Indian Snakes, 11
Eryx johni Daniel, 1983, Indian ReEtiles, : 69
Specimens Examined: 2 ~, 1 ~, Palitana, Dist. Bhavnagar,
1.5.1988; I Q, Bhuj, Dist. Kachchha, 6.7.1988, call, N. K.
Desai; 1 ~, Saputara, Dist.. Dangs, 8.8.1988; 1 9., Nimeta,
Dist. Vadodara, 31.1.1989, Call D. S. Patel; 1 d", Vejalpur,
Dis t. Panchamahal, 8 • 5 . 1 989 , call. B. A. Shah, 1 ~,
Bardipada, Dist. Dangs, 2 • 1 1 . 1 989 , Co. 1. S. Pa tel ; 1 9.,
Manjusar, Dist. Vadodara, 8.10.1992, Call. M. G. Dave: 1 Q,
Indroda, Dist. Gandhinagar, 2.11.1992, Call. A. B. Sharma.
Measurements : Total body length 30.0-114.0 em, snout to
vent 26.5-103.0 cm, tail 3.5 - 11.0 cm.
,. Characters: Body cylindrical, stout, head not distinct from
the neck, eyes small, tail very short and blunt. Supralabials
&
59
8 12, two series of scales separating the eye, 8 1 5
scales round the eye; rostral large, broader and angular;
nostril slit like; body scales in 57 - 70 rows, more or less
distinctly keeled, on tail strongly keeled, ventrals 139
221, not across the body; caudals 23 40, undivided; anal
entire, small. Body colour red brown, light pink or dark
chocolate brown; young ones are light pink or red brown with
8 - 12 black bands on the body. Belly uniform brown, speckled
grey with yellowish black in young ones (Plate 5, a).
Habits and Habitat Burrowing habits and nocturnal. Very
docile and shy, when handled try to hind the head under body
coils, never bites. Mostely lives in rodent burrows, in
forests, agricultural land and dried and arid regions.
Breeding : Ovoviviparous. I have collected young ones during
June to August. According to Snehal Patel (persnol
communication) a large size female gave birth to 14 young
ones, about the size of 30 cm length on 14th August 1990,
If normaly female gives births to 6 to 8 you1ones (Plate 5, b).
Us=: u a 11 y the you n go n e s are co v ere d by a ve r y t h i n
transperent membrane just like an egg shell, which breaks off
'" soon after laying and hance ov~viparous.
Distribution , ·Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India; very cornmon in
Gujarat (Map 5).
• ..
60
7 ERYX CONICUS (Schneider)
(Common Sand boa; Russell's sand boa)
Boa eonica Schneider, 1801, Hist. Amphib., II : 268
Boa viperina Shaw, 1802, Gen. Zool., III : 355
Boa ornata Daudin, 1802, Hist. Nat. B!E.!.., V : 210
Gongylophis conicus Boalenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, : 247
Eryx conicus Wall, 1905, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. J 16:292
Eryx cone ius Pitman, 1913, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. So c. , 22:633
Erys conicus Prater, 1924, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 30: 166
Eryx conicus Smi th, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, Rept.& Amphi. , III : 112
Eryx conicus Deoras, 1965, Snakes of India, : 99
Eryx conicus Whitaker,1978, Common Indian Snakes, 9
Eryx conicus Daniel 1983, Indian Reptiles, 97
Eryx conicus Das, 199 I , Hamadryad, 16 : 21
Specimens examined 1 ~, Amargadh, Dist. Bhavnagar,
1.1.1988; 19., Anjar, Dist. Kachehha, 10.8.1988, Call N. K.
Desai; 1 ~, Palanpur, Dist Banaskantha, 6.9.1988; I Q, Harni,
Vadodara, Dist. Vadodara, 19.6.1989, Call. B. A. Shah; 1 Q,
Padra, Dist. Vadodara, 12.1.1990; 1 cr, Dhrangadhra, Dist.
Surendranagar, 14.1.1992, Call. M. A. Sheth; I if, Vadodara,
Dist. Vadodara, 12.10.1992, Call. H. A. Patil; 1 Q, Duldha,
Dist. Dangs, 15.11.1992.
Measurements Total body length 52.0-74.0 em, sonut to vent
48.0-68.0, tail 4.0-5.0 em.
61
Characters Body cylindrical and stout, head not distinct
from the neck, tail very short and pointed, eyes small.
Supralabials 13-14, 9-12 scales round the eye; body scales in
45-52 rows, more or less strongly keeled, very strongly
keeled on the tail; ventrals 167-178, caudals 18-22. Body
colour light brown or dark brown with yellowish white
irregular blotches forming
markings are different
(Plate 5, c).
uneven chain like markings. These
for each and every specimen
Habit and Habitat Strongly borrowing habits. Very
aggressive, bites when handled. Head is hidden beneath the
body coils when provoked or disturbed. Nocturnal but also
observed feeding and active during the day time. Live under
logs and stones, some time found in houses.
Food : Mostly rat eater, but young ones feed on insects,
small lizards and mice. I have also observed a small size
snake eating large size common wolf snake (Lycodon aulicus).
Distribution Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and India;
very common in Gujarat (Map 5).
Subfamily PYTHONINAE
Pythonoidea Fitzinger, 1826, Nat. Classi. ~., 27
Pytyonine Underwood, 1967, Cont. Classi. Snakes, : 67
Pythonidae Seigal et. ~., 1987, Snakes Ecol. Evol. BioI., :28
Characters A separate supraorbital bone, teeth present
on premaxilla, lacrimal foraman completely enclosed within
PLATE 5
a. Red Sand boa (Eryx johni) coiled on common
rat.
b. Red Send boa (Eryx johni) with its youngones.
c. Common sand boa (Eryx conicus).
-""
, "', '!-..
"
;
l " ,'.' , '
"
~.'-'-
"
... ~
" ,
·c , "1 .
"
"
.. . .... t ,
. . . '-
, ----...
" ::. ,: . .:. .... ;
. ~.- .'
, ..
. '~ . , .~ . . -, ..
b
, ""--J ... . , . . - , ... ..s.. \ ' .,,- '",., . .. • •
62
prefrontal; no tracheal lung; subcaudal scales in paires.
Oviparous.
Distribution Africa, Australia, Asia and Malaya Peninsula.
Genus 5 PYTHON Daudin
Python Daudin, 1803, Mag. Encyl. Anim., 434
Python Boulenger, 18'0, Fauna Brit. India, 245
Python Smi th, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, Repti. &
III 105 Amphi. ,
Characters : Anterior maxillary and mandibular teeth very
long. Head distinct from neck, with large symmetrical
shields; rostral, anterior supralabials and anterior and
posterior infralabials pitted. Eye with vertical pupul. Body
scales smooth, 60 75 rows, ventrals rather narrow,
subcaudals generally paired. Hypapophyses absent in the
posterior part of the vertebral column. Oviparous.
Distribution : Africa, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Burma,
Sri Lanka and India.
8 PYTHON MOLURUS (Linnaeus)
, (Indian rock python)
Coluber molurus Linnaeus, 1758, ~. Nat. 10th Ed., 225
Python molurus Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 189
Python molurus Wall, 1912, 1. Bombay Nat. 21 : 447
Hist. Soc.,
Python molurus var.ocella Prater, 1924, 2. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 30 : 166
Python molurus Fraser,
Python molurus Smith,
Python molurus Deoras,
1937, J. Bombay Nat. 39 : 465
63
Hist. Soc.,
1943, Fauna Brit. Amphi. ,lTI
India, ~. &
106
1965, Snakes of India,: 97
Python molurus Whitaker, 1978, Common Indian Snakes, 6
Python molurus Daniel, 1983, Indian Reptiles, : 71
Specimens examined I ~, Nr. Godhra, Dist. Panchamahals,
5.2.1989, ColI. D. N. Narve; 1 Q, Rajpardi, Dist. Bharuch,
18.8.1989, ColI R. Tiruvagaddam; 1 d', Vanar, Chotaudepur,
Dist. Vadodara, 18.9.1991; 1 9, Vadodara, Dist. Vadodara,
12.1.1992; 1 Q, Ganeshpura, Vaghodia, Dist. Vadodara,
24.4.1992.
Measurements Total body length 169.0-386.0 cm, snout to
vent 151.0-341.0 cm, tail 18.0-45.0 cm.
Characters: Body cylindrical, thick and long, head distinct
from neck, tail moderate and prehensile. Supralabials 13
14, first two pitted, 6th or 7th or rarely 8th touching to
the eye, rostral large and pitted, nostril on the upper part
of large anterior nasal; parietal, loreal and temporal
r e gJ 0 n s co v ere d wit h i r reg u I a r s c a I e s; 2 pre and 3 0 r 4
postoculars, 19 - 20 infra1abials, the anterior ones long and
narrow; midbody scales 63 or 64 rows, smooth and scale size
increases from dorsal to lateral, outer row of largest
scales, ventrals 250 260, dist inct ly 'narrow than the
breadth of the body, anals entire, coudals 53 70 divided
but rarely few of them entire; spure at vent on both the
64
sides, larger in male. Body colour yellowish to dark brown
with irregular large blotched pattern. The blotched pattern
is different for each and every specimen, on that pattern
individual snake can be identified. Belly yellowish with
brown markings (Plate 6, a).
n Habits and Habitat NocturLal, during the day time rest in
burrows; during winter basking in sun in the early hours of
the day. Found near water, marshes, swamps and river terrain.
Often reported from the fields in South Gujarat.
Food : Mostly warm blooded animals, ranging from small mice
to large goat and deer. Small pythons also feed on frogs.
Distribution : Pakistan and India; very widly distributed in
Gujarat. Python molurus bivittatus is another variety found
in China and Indo-Chines subregion. Considering the habitat
structure, it is possible that this variety must be dwelling
in North and North-East regions of India (Map 5).
Family IV ACROCHORDIDAE
Acrochordiae Bonaparte, 1840, Mem. Acad. Sci. Torino, 2 : 393
Acrochordidae Jan, 1863, Elenco. Sisto Ofid., 106
Acrochordidae Smith, 1939, Ann. Ma g. Nat. His t • , II I ( 2 ) : 393
Acrochordidae Underwood,1967, Gont.Glassi.Snakes, London,: 66
Characters Primitive and truely aquatic family. The
anterior skull elements are flexible, movable on the
braincase. Optic foraman in parietal, premaxilla free, very
Ion g qua d rat e, cor 0 n 0 ida b sen t, tee t hun i form, po s t e rio r
hypophyses present throughout the vertebral column. No pelvic
vestiges. Lavator anguli oris muscle absent. The hemipenis is
deeply divided, proximal part spiny. The scales small and
granular, ventral scales little larger than the dorsals. Body
slightly flattened laterally with the head distinctly broader
than the neck, tail short and prehensile. Acrochordus and
Ghersydrus are the only two genera belonging to this family.
Distribution: Live in river estuaries and coastal waters
from Pakistan to far-East New Guinea.
Genus 6 CHERSYDRUS Guvier
Ghersydrus Guvier, 1817, ~. Anim., II : 75
Ghersydrus Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 355
Ghersydrus Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~.& Amphi., III ~
Characters Maxillary teeth subequal, 12 to 15 fang like
teeth with posterior groove. Head not distinct from neck,
66
covered with small, granular scales; nostrils close together
surrounded by a circular nasal shield, eye on the upper
surface of the head. Body stout, covered with loose skin;
scales very small, juxtaposed or subimbricate no ventral
shields, a distinct median abdominal fold in the skin. Tail
short, feebly compressed, prehensile. Monospecific genus.
Distribution Indian coast to China, Malaya Peninsula and
Archipelago, and Queensland.
9 CHERSYDRUS GRANULATUS (Scheider)
(Indian filesnake)
Hydrus granulatus Scheider, 1799, Hist. Amphi., I : 243
Chersydrus granulats Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India,: 355
Chersydrus granulats Annandale,
Chersydrus granulats Wall,
Acrochordus granulatus Smith,
Acrochordus granulatus Deoras,
Chersydrus granulats Murthy,
1905, 1. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, -: 175
1918, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 25 : 756
1943, Fauna Brit.India, ~. & Amph i., I II : 134
1965, Snakes of India, : 100
1986, The snJke book Tr1dia, : 17
of
Specimens examined : 2 ~, 1 d', Ghogha Coast, Ghogha, Dist.
Bhavnagar, 5.6.1988; 1 Q, Dabaka, Padra, Dist. Vadodara,
10.10.1991; 1 Q, Kosamba Coast, Near. Tithal, Dist. Valsad, , 6.1.1993. ,
Measurement: Total body length 86.0-89.0 cm, snout to vent
73.0-79.0 cm, tail 9.0-13.0 cm.
67
Characters Body stout and thicker, covered with small
scales and loose skin; head square and small, tail short and
laterally compressed, prehensile; nostrils on the upper
surface of the snout, eyes small and lateral. Head scales
small, granuler, not entire, midbody scales more than 90,
small and juxtaposed or feebly imbricate with a central
tubercle, some times keeled; a median longitudinal fold of
skin on the belly covered with small spinose scales. Body
colour dark grey, some times very light grey to whitish, 60
to 80 bands round the body are tappering towards ventral
side. Head grey with few white spots (Plate 6, b).
Distribution Coastal waters from Pakistan to North Coast
of Austria and Solomon Islands. Common in river estuaries and
coastal water of India. Very common in costal water of
Gujarat State (Map 5).
68 0 F9° ?po 7'
0 72 0 ~30 74 0 7~0 I i ~. i 001250 GUJARAT STATE!
2.40
23 0
22 0
21 0
20 0 I
6BO
~ .... .!..
J--- --
-~--.: - --",......._. --=----. -- = ==-
-- - - - --:.:_--:.-:...---:..:
KAOlC~'
It Bhuj ......
JA,'"",CAR
;' \ ( ". •
.-_-'\ J ~CJT
) , ---....
c:' 'i-.}
\. /.-. . .. - '" "-r" ~ .. : , ,,-',..,' . J .... _j :...-.... , .---" ,-.-
: ~ " : " -, ,.j .~.") .--' '--....... \
""\RElI :'.' " •
...
"
./ • t.... ..... J
... E. 1 ohn i johni
~ E. conicus
A P. molurus
• C. granulatus
6qo
. ,
70 0
, i JL«-\GADH J
c .. _, l~'1 \ ~ i.. '''1-
•
\> 1
MAPS
71 0
t --, BANASK.<.'IlliA ) Pal.npor ... I
N
7;>0
r-...... .1 -....... , {/ l \
• ! SAIlARIWfTHA
i • -' .
.~"",.,,,,,.~ oJ'" ~ • .6:' ( .. - --;
CANOH I NAGAR ro:-)."-\-/ :~..J / .
• ...._.) j PANlHA.\-.utAlS ,r-- f , .
!- • ~\ j J \
:i ~ KHEDA ,.-- ." \ . f I' { : I: r". 'I . . .... , A \: I
J • '---' '-.' .~
\ v ... ",
• eo::.,,..a
...
.. ~"~.:: ~ \ ....... -./ .. ..r .. --_ ...
• BlWlU(H ..
7,0 74° Distribution Eryx 1 johni, E. conicus, Python molurus and chersydrus granulalus.
r" , I ..
/
" ,.
'.
24°
23 0
22 0
21 0
20 0
Family V DJPSADJDAE
Dipsadinae Bonaparte, 1840, Men. Acad. Sci. Torino,: 392
Dipsadidae Gunther, 1858, Cat. ~. Brit. Mus., 162
Dipsadidae Underwood, 1967, Cont. Classi. Snakes, London,:80
Characters Palatomaxillary arch complete, coronoid bone
absent; only left common carotid artery, intercostal arteries
arise from dorsal aorta at intervals of several body
segments, frontal step on parasphenoid, usually trabecular
ridges on frontals, no free suture between frontals over
optic fenestra, usually lavator anguli oris muscle present,
duplex retina This family is divided into seven
subfamilies.
Distribution Sou t h - Ea s t As i a, C e n t r a 1 and Sou t h Arne ric a ,
Indo-Australian Archipelago.
KEY TO THE SUBFAMILIES OF DIPSADIDAE
1. Opt ic nerve enclosed •.•..•.••.••.••.••......•.......• 2
Optic nerve not enclosed ....••...•.•.••.••.....•...•• 3
2. Optic nerve between frontal and parasphenoid, quadrate
3 •
articulated .••••.•....•.• ~ •..•..••••.••..•.•....••..• 6
Optic nerve between frontal and parietal, Vomer and frontal
+ in contact ...•••.•••..•.•••..•••••...•••• XENODERMINAE
Trabecular ridges present frontals, very large
posterior maxillary teeth
on
+ .•..........•••.. XENODONTINAE
Trabecular ridges less or absent on frontals •..•..•••..••..••••.•....••.•........••••. 4
69
4. Posterior hypapophyses present, posterior end of dentary free ••••• ••.••••• SIBYNOPHINAE
Posterior hypapophyses absent, squamosal very small ................................. 5
5. Levator anguli oris embraces
supralabial gland •.•••••••••.•••••••••••••••• PAREINAE+ .....
Le~vator anguli oris does
not embrace supralabial gland * •••.••••...••• DIPSADINAE
6. Quadrate articulates with * optic bones ............................... CALAMARINAE
Quadrate articulates with squamosal •••••••••••••••..••.••••••••••••• LYCODONTINAE
Subfamily LYCODONTINAE
Lycodontina Bonapart, 1845, Atti. Riun. Sci. Ital. 6 :377
Lycodontinae Underwood, 1967, Cont. Classi. Snakes,London, :92
Charecte.s Optic nerve between frontal, parietal and
parasphenoid; trabecular ridges on frontals, parasphenoid
without frontal crest, vomers not in contact with frontals,
quadrate articulates with squamosal; vidian can"l usually
present, levator anguli oris muscle usually present.
Distribution South-East Asia, Indo-Australian Archipelago.
* Not reported in India.' + Not reported in Gujarat'State.
70
Genus 7 LYCODON Boie
Lycodon Boie, 1826, in Ferussac's Bull. Sci. Nat., 9: 238
Leptrorhytaon Gi.inther, 1858, Cat. CoIl. Sn. Brit. Mus., :205
Tytieria Theobald,
Lycodon Boulenger,
1868, Cat.~. Asiat. Soc. Mus.,: 205
1890, Fauna Brit. India, : 291
Lycodon Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, Amph i . ,ITT : 255
~. &
Characters Head elongate and depressed, nostrils between
two nasals, eyes large. 3 to 6 fang like teeth on maxillary
bone, separated by a toothless interspace from the rest,
posterior maxillary teeth larger than the others. Rostral
broader than high, loreal elongate, 3rd, 4th and 5th
supralabials touching to the eye. Body scales in 19,17 or 15
rows, smooth or feebly keeled with apical pits, ventrals with
or without a lateral keel, subcaudals paired, except in a
species (~.travancoricus). Hypapophyses absent in posterior
part of the vertebral column. Nocturnal in habits. Eight
species are reported from India.
Distribution Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India.
Key to the species of the Genus Lycodon
I. Supralabials 8, white broad band and dark body colour ••....•.•..•.•.••.•.•.•...•.. ··striatus
2. Supralab'ials 9, white sputs forming bands, upper lips white or spotted ..................... aulicus
3. Supralabials 9, body colour darkbrown or black with small yellow vertebral spots .. flavomaculatus
71
10 LYCODON STRIATUS (Shaw)
(Barred wolf snake)
Coluber striatus Shaw, 1802, Gen. Zool., 3 : 527
Lycodon striatus Stoliczka, 1870, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 39 : 200
Lycodon striatus Boulenger, 18S0, Fauna Br it. India, 292
Lycodon striatus Annandale, 1904, J. As i a t. Soc. Bengal, : 208
Ophites striatus Wall, 1923, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. J
29 : 612
1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & Amph i. lIT : 261
Lycodon striatus Smith,
Lycodon striatus Daniel, 1983, Indian Reptiles, 90
Specimens examined 1 Q, Vadodara, Dist. Vadodara
30.1.1989: 1 1j2, Indroda, Dist. Gandhinagar, 3.3.1989: 1 6,
Mahuva, Dist. Bhavnagar, 5.8 1989: 1 Q. Rajpipla, Dist.
Bharuch, 10.9.1989: 1 1j2, Ranoli, Dist. Vadodara, 17.10.1990,
ColI. S. A. Patel; 1 Q, Kanjeta, Dist. Panchamahals,
10.8.1992, ColI. B. A. Shah.
Measurements Total body length 14.0-42.2 cm, snout to vent
12.2-35.4 cm, tail 1.8-6.8 cm.
Characters : Body elongate, head less distinct from t.he
neck, flattened and snout, projecting, tail moderate.
Supralabials 8, rarely 7, 3 to 5 or 4th and 5th touching te,
the eye, one loreal, 1 pre, 2 postoculars, temporals 2+2 or
'2+3, body scales in 17:17:15 rows, smooth: ventrals 160-230,
caudals 35-50, divided, anals 2. Body colour dark brown with
white crossbars extending laterally forming a triangle. A
72
broad white band present on the nape, very rarely absent,
upper lips and lower jaw region uniform white (Plate 6, c).
Habits and Habitat Nocturnal, active at night, lives in
crevices, holes, under stones, logs and tree barks. Commonly
found hidden
stones, etc
provocation.
in contruction materials like ~
rock s, '--'
bricks,
Very timid and never strike even on
Usually do not try to escape, but coils itself
up, when touched or teased, hides its head beneath its coils.
Distribution Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and
India. Widely distributed in Gujarat (Map 6).
11 LYCODON FLAVOMACULATUS Wall
(Yellow spotted wolf snake)
Ly codon flavomaculatus wall, 1907, 1. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc.) 17 : 612
0l2hites flavomaculatus wa 11, 1923, 1. Bombay Na t. Hist. Soc. , 29 : 613
Lycodon f1avomacu1atus Smith,1943, Fauna Brit. I nd i a, ~. &
Amphi. -;-IT I 262.
Specimen examined 1 g, Uld port of Bhavnagar, Dist.
Bhavnagar, 4.2.1981, ColI. P. Mehta.
Measurements Total body length 48.0 em, snout to vent 41.5
cm, t ail 6. 5 cm.
Characters Body elongated, neck less distinct, head
flattened, tail moderate. Supral~bials 9, 3 to 5 touching to
the eye, temporals 2+3. Midbody scales in 17 rows, smooth,
ventrals 179, caudals 58, divided, anals 2. Body colour
PLATE 6
a. Indian Rock python (Python molurus).
b. File snake (Chersydrus granulatus).
c. Barred wolf snake (Lycodon striatus) .
•
" "
PLATE 6
73
black with white crossbars extending laterally to form a
reticulation, triangular yellow spots middorsally, belly
white (Plate 7,a).
Distribution Western Ghats in India. Only a single
specimen was reported by Vyas (1984) from Bhavnagar, Gujarat
(M. Sc. Dissertation, Bhavnagar University, unpublished)
(Map 6).
12 LYCODON AULICUS (Linnaeus)
(Common Wolf Snake)
Coluber aulicus Linnaeus, 1754, Mus.Adolph. Frider 1:29
Lycodon aulicus Gunther, 1864, ~. Brit. India, :316
Lycodon anamallensis Gunther, 1864, ~. Brit.lndia, : 318
Tytleria hypsirhinoides Theobald, 1868, Cat.~. Asiat. Soc.
Lycodon aulicus Stoliczka,
Mu s., : 66
1870, J. Asit. Soc. 39--201
Bengal,
Lycodon anamallensis Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, :293
Lycodon atropurpureus Boulenger,1890, Fauna Brit. India, :356
Lycodon aulicus Wall, 1904, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 15 : 87
Ophites aulicus Wall, 1923, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. , 29 : 613
Lycodon anammallensis Wall, 192 3, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. SOC. , 29 613
Lycodon aulicus Prater, 192 4, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. , 30 : 16-8 -
Lycodon aulicus Smi th, 1943, Fauna Brit.India, ~. & Amph-;:-:-;- III : 263
Lycodon aulicus Deoras, 1965, Snakes of India, : 108
Lycodon aulicus Whitaker, 197 8. Common Indian Snakes, : 1 3
Lycodon aulicus Daniel, 1983, Indian Reptiles, 89
74
Specimens examined : ~, Koba, Dist. Gandhinagar, 16.3.1989,
ColI. J. Golaniya; 1 ~, Harni, Dist. Vadodara, 3.5.1989,
CoIl. R. Patel; 1 ~, Saputara, Dist. Dangs, 22.8.1989; 1 ~,
Vadodara, Dist. Vadodara, 22.8.1990; 1 0', Gotri, Vadodara,
Dist. Vadodara, 28.1.1991, CoIl. N. Solanki; 1~, Makarpura,
Dist. Vadodara, 12.9.1991; 1 ~, Bhavnagar, Dist. Bhavnagar,
7.10.1991, CoIl. H. Vaidya; 1 !;l, Ankleshvar, Dist. Bharuch,
4.2.1992, ColI. R. Tiruvagadam; 1 ~, Balaram, Palanpur, Dist.
Banaskatha, 19.8.1990.
Measurements: Total body length 27.0-92.0 em, snout to vent
23.0-81.0 cm, tail 4.0-11.0 cm.
Characters : Body elongated, neck distinct, head flattened,
snout projecting over lower jaw, tail long. Supralabials 9,
rarely 8 or 10, 3 to 5 touching to the eye, some times 4th
and 5th only touching to eye, loreal 1, 1 pre and 2
postocular, some times 3 postoculars, rarely 1, temporals
usually 2+3. Body scales in 17:17:15 rows, smooth, ventrals
206-247 and angulate laterally, caudal 51-72, divided, anals
2. In male, hemipenis extending upto 10th caudal plate,
forked near the tip, calyces being s
tran~ersely arranged. It
has longitudinal folds with more or less distinct spines.
Body colour light to dark brown or greyish brown with 22 to
34 white crossbars extending laterally and bifurcated at the
end. Upper lip white or spotted with hrown colour. Belly
uniform white and laterally folded (Plate 7, b).
Habits and Habitat
during the day time.
old ruined houses,
75
Nocturnal, active at night, hides
-ta. Commonly found near human habi~ ions,
under the bark and hollow of trees and
logs. Aggressive and bites, when handled. Makes a coil of the
anterior region of the body and is ready to strike, it also
vibrates the tail when excited. Excellent climber, capable
of climbing upon the smooth vertical surfaces, that is why
commonly found hanging from or on the ceilings, roofs and
higher places in houses.
Food Its favourite food is geckos, skinks and small
lizards.
Breeding: Oviparous, 4 to 11 eggs laid during February and
July (Daniel, 1987). A gravid female laid 7 eggs during the
month of May 1989, average egg size 2.33 x 1.4 cm and another
laid 4 eggs,on August 1990, average size 2.14 x 1.03 cm.
Two races are recognised L. aulicus caphcinus and L.
aulicus aulicus.
Distribution Pakistan, Sri Lanka Burma, Malaya,
Philippines, Indo-China, South China and India. Very Common
in Gujarat (Map 6).
Note: Whitaker (1978) reported its maximum size of 80.0 cm,
Daniel (1983') stated that L. aul icus is rarely found above
61.0 cm. in body length. I have collected a female specimen
of this species with the total body length of 92.0 cm. from
76
Ankleshwar, Dist. Bharuch. Th is j s the first record of
highest body length of this species.
Genus 8 OLIGODON Boie
Oligodon Boie, 1827 Isis., 519
Rhynchocalamus Gunther, 1864, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 491
Oligodon Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 317
Oligodon Wall, 1909, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. , 19 : 556
Oligodon Smi th, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. &
Am12hi. , TIT;"" 195
Characters: Body size small to moderate, head short, not
distinct from neck, head shields reduced in number, eyes
moderate with round pupil, rostral large. Maxillary teeth 6
to 16, the posterior very strongly enlarged and compressed,
palatine teeth well developed or vestigial. Body cylindrical
with smooth scales, ventrals rounded subcaudals paired.
Hypapophysis absent on the posterior dorsal vertebrae.
18 species of Oligodon are recorded so far from India.
Distribution Oriental region, China, Formose, Islands of
the Indo-Austral ian Archipelago and South Western Asia.
Common throughout India.
13 OLIGODON ARNENSIS (Shaw)
• (Kukri snake)
Coluber arnensis Shaw, 1802, Gen. Zool. 3 : 526
Silmotes arnensis Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 314
Silmotes arnensis Wall,
Oligodon arnensis Wall,
Oligodon arnensis Wa 11,
Oligodon arnensis Prater,
01 igodon arnensis Fraser,
Oligodon arnensis Smith,
Oligodon a~ensis Whitekar, ,
Oligodon a~nsis Daniel,
77
1907, J. Bombay Nat. His t. Soc. , 18 : 115 and
--1909, 19 : 532
192 3, Rec. Indian Mus. , 25: 324
1923, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. , 29 : 629
1924, J. Bombay Nat. Hi st. Soc. , 30 : 170
1923, J. Bombay 39 : 480
1943, Fauna Brit. Amph i • -:--TIl
Nat. Hist. Soc.,
India,~. &
225
1978, Common Indian Snakes, 15
1983, Indian Reptiles, : 82
Specimens examined: 1 ~, Indroda, Dist. Gandhinagar,
5.5.1988; 19, 10', Shihor, Dist. Bhavnagar, 8.8.1988; 1 ~,
Harni, Dist. Vadodara, 15.3.1989, ColI. I. G. Patel; 10',
Vadodara Dist. Vadodara, 23.9.1989; 1 0', Vadodara Dist.
Vadodara, 22.12.1990, ColI. B. V. Patel; 10', Dediyapada,
Dist. Bharuch, 1.7.1992, ColI. M. G. Dave; 16', Sarkhej,
Dist. Ahemadabad, 25.8.1992, ColI. A. B. Sharma; 1 cl", Duldha,
Dist. Dungs, 28.10.1992, ColI. K. S. Bhatt.
Measurements: Total body length 25.7-57.0 cm, snout to vent
22.2-47.0 cm, tail 3.5-10.0 cm.
Characters : Body cylindrical, neck less distinct, head
flattened, tail moderate, eyes with round pupil.
Supralabials 7, 3rd and 4th touching to the eye, 1 pre and 2
postoculars, temporals 1+2; body scales in 17:17:15 or 14
rows, smooth and glossy, ventrals 164-191, cauda1s 45-64,
78
divided, anals 2, very rarely 1. Hemipenis extending upto
the 8th caudal plate, not forked, spinose throughout, at tips
the spines are relatively smaller and placed together, they
gradually increase in size towards the base of organ. Body
colour light or dark brown, some times reddish brown with 27
to 36 dark brownblack bands on the body from tIle neck to
ta i1. The top of the head with three distinct conspicuous
chevron shaped marks, a dark brown stripe running from the
eye to the angle of mouth. Belly uniforme white (Plate 7, c).
Habits and Habitat Diurnal, commonly found in tree holes,
under stones, in crevices of walls and near by residential
places. When excited, the snake display a remarkable
posture, it inflate its body to a remarkable degree.
Food Main food is of geckos, skinks and lizards. Also prey
upon eggs of birds and other reptiles, small snakes;
youngones take insects and grubs.
Breeding: Oviparous. A gravid female laied two eggs on 11th
October, 1989 at night, average egg size 3.6 x 0.8 cm.
Distribution Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India.
in Gujarat (Map 6).
1+ OLIGODON TAENIOLATUS (Jerdon)
(Russell's kukri snake)
Coronella taeniolata Jerdon, 1853, 1.. 22 :
Asiat. 528
Soc.
Comnon
Bengal,
Oligodon subgriseum Boulenger,1890, Fauna Brit. India, 321
a.
PLATE 7
Yellow-spoted wolf snake
flavomaculatus) with common wolf snake (~.
aulicus) •
b. Longest (92.0 cm) common wolf snake (~.
aul icus).
c. Cornman Kukri snake (Oligodon arnensis).
, .
L
a
-.~~ .. -----~--.-:- -~------"---"'''''''":'''''.··-·''Ol.p .. b
,
PLA~E 7
c
~ .,;tn N.l"l. .... 'l~ ~
~"U r,\~,
Oligodon taeniolatus Wall,
Oligodon taeniolatus Wall,
Oligodon taeniolatus Wall,
Oligodon taeniolatus, Prater,
Oligodon taeniolatus, Fraser,
Oligodon taeniolatus, Smith,
Oli godon taeniolatus, Daniel,
79
1921, ~. Ceylon, : 239
1923, .:!..Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 29 : 627
1923, Rec. Indian Mus. ,25 : 311
1924, .:!..Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. , 30 : 171
1937, .:!..Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. , 39 : 481
1943, Fauna Br it. I nd i a, ~.& Amphi.~I : 223
1983, Indian Rertiles, 83
Specimens examined: 1 !;l., Indroda, Dist. Gandhinagar,
8.8.1989; I cr, Vartej, Dist. Bhavnagar, 1.9.1989, ColI. V. B.
Mer; 1 Q, Savali, Dist. Vadodara, 14.5.1990; 1 Q, Rajkot
Dist. Rajkot, 15.10.1990, ColI. C. B. Jahla.
Measorements: Total body length 15.0-56.0 cm, snout to vent
12.5-49.0 cm, tail 2.5-7.0 cm.
Characters : Body cyl indrical, head short and less dist inct
from neck, tail moderate. Supralabials 7, 3rd and 4th
touching to the eye, 1 pre, 2 postoculars, temporals 1+2;
scales at midbody in 15 rows, smooth, ventrals 160-202,
feebly angul~te laterally, caudals 30-42, divided. Hemipenis
extending upto the 11th caudal plate. Five coloured forms
are reported from India, viz.,
1. Buff, pale brown, cedar-brown with four lon'gitudinal ,
brown stripes, two broad along the black and two
narrow. Belly unspotted.
80
2. A medium series of large welldefined. round spots.
anterior ones often divided. No stripes.
3. Dorsal spots larger than above type 2 and
longitudinally elongate. 18 to 22 bands on body.
4. Body spots large. transversely arranged. dark brown.
black or yellow edged spots. 14 to 16 on body.
5. Large dark brown rounded spots with black and white
edged and arranged in pairs or alternate on opposite
sides of vertebral line.
Specimens in my collection have brown to pale buff with
large dark brown to black rounded spots wi th I ight yellow
coloured edges on the body. Three 1 V 1 shaped dark coloured
marks on the head and a dark black stripe running to lower
side of the eye upto the upper lip. Belly pale light grey or
wh i t e (P I ate 8. a).
Habits and Habitat Commonly found near gardens and small
bushes. under stones. dead wood and logs and crevices.
Nocturnal. active at night in search of food.
Food: Commonly feed on geckos. skinks and small lizards.
Distribution Pakistan. Sri Lanka and India. Common in
Gujarat (Map 6).
Subfamily SIBYHOPHIHAE
Sibynophinae Dunn. 1928. Bull. An~ivenin.Inst. Amer •• 2:20
Sibynophinae Underwood.1967. Cont. Classi.Snakes. London.: 91
;;4°
23°
22°
210
20 0 I
68° o
GUJARAT STATEi
~ ... -- -E=-_-.: _ -
",......_.-f:::..-----. --::. ==_--- - -;~:::-~~-~L
o
~.AC--'Cf+l
• ahu,
JM1'IACAR
° 72 0 ° o
t N IMNASKA~'THA 0 --,
Pal anpur.. J {
t;'-. too ...... , ,..! '-- ........ '--,./ ~ . I
f-'" ( = ::::;-- '-ffiSANo\ ! SAIlARKAHTH.\ :: ----.{ •
.. ~ i "'y J .... _J'\ ! , .' "./ /' . J' .' .-~"' ...... - . ,_, I J c •• : .. " .--'--.
, ( ( CA.'I0t.j! NACAR \__ _ f ---1
\
"'~ ._-. __ ._)".-g, ?-].,. \_: "
• '. J' i l • ! AH.£DABAI) C •• J )" PANOlA\~HALS \ ",,---~ ., I , S~GAR J ,_ j. Codhr.
/ \~. ,r\ , 'J ' \ .,,-" '. ......" ./ ~
) \"') )-..... , ...... ) .'/ KHEDA ,.~ - i .-~.....-. (.,.\. .:'r---""""': I'!' -.. .. J'" . • • r-. l .~ + \ !"-'. ~ i -ro! \! I
: v--" ..... -', .. -11*. ___ .J
••• _~_'\) ~<lT : • ___ •••• , \ v~ __ ~ _._~_F·' ~-{---->j \" .' ... ~.,
. '. i" --. \..... ~--.. .. ------
J., " ...... /" ("
• L . striatus
... L. flavomaculatus
tl L. aulicus
0 O. arnensis
+ O. taeniolatus
69 0 70 0
= .. .., r-'-'-'-" MREU ': -J • t.. - \..: - BHARUQ-I ! •. F D 0
• '-0 ..-.... i i
Jl.t<ACJ\O/I .. ./ l C .. _, --)
\" "-;-'i , ~
~ '''~ ~
MAP6
72° 73° 74 c 6eo Distribution Lycodon striatus,
O. taeniolatus. L.
71° tlavomaculatus, L. auf icus, 01 igodon arnensis and
o 25"
24°
.' { ' .
._r / 23°
22° r-,. . ,
,
21 0
20 0
81
Characters Low frontal crest on parasphenoid, no
trabecular ridges on frontals, posterior end of dentary free,
no choanal process on palatine, posterior hypapophyses
present.
Distribution Oriental region, Madagascar, Central America.
Genus 9 SIBYNOPHIS Fitzinger
Sibynophis Fitzinger, 1843, ~. ~., : 26
Polyodontophis Boulenger,1890, Fauna Brit. India, 301
Polyodontophis Wall, 1921, ~. Ceylon, 82
Sibynophis Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. &
Amphi. ,-rTT : 276
Characters Body cylindrical, head slightly distinct from
neck, eyes large with round pupil. Body scales smooth, in 17
rows, ventrals rounded, subcaudals paired, anals divided,
maxillary teeth 30 to 50, closely set and equal in size.
Hypapophyses developed throughout the vertebral column. Four
species are recorded from India.
Distribution Oriental region, Madagascar, Central America.
15 SIBYNOPHIS SUBPUNCTATUS (Dumeril & Bibron)
(Dumeril's black-headed snake)
Oligodon subpunctatus Dumeril & Bibron,1854, Erp.Gen., 7 : ,58
Poliyodontophis subpunctatus,Boulenger,1890,Fauna Brit.India, , : 313
Poliyodontophis subpunctatus, Wall, 1907, l. Bombay Nat. Hist.Soc. ,29:599
Polivodontophis subpunctatus, Wall, 1921, Sn. Ceylon,: 84
Poliyodontophis subpunctatus, Prater,
Sibynophis subpunctatus Schmidt,
Sibynophis subpunctatus Smith,
82
1924,~. Bombay Nat. ~.Soc.,30:168
1926, Pub. field Mus. Nat.Hist.,12:-171
1943, Fauna Brit.lndia ~. -&-Amph i , III : 279
Specimens examined : 1 ~, Sagai, Dediyapada, Dist. Bharuch,
8.8.1989; 1 t;l, Ganeshpura, Dist. Vadodara 7.5.1991; 1 rJ,
Vadodara, Dist. Vadodara, 8.3.1993, ColI. D. D. Gaikwad.
Measurements: Total body length 32.0-36.2 cm, snout to vent
25.5-28.5 cm, tail 6.5-7.7 cm.
Characters Body cylindrical, head slightly distinct from
neck, eyes large, tail long. Supralabials 9, rarely 8, 4th to
6th or 3rd to 6th or rarely 3rd to 5th touching to the eye, 1
pre, 2 postoculars, parietal touches both the postoculars;
body scales in 17 rows at midbody, smooth, ventrals 187-200,
caudals 63-75, anals 2. Hemipenis extends upto 8th or 9th
caudal plate, not forked, two rows of large spines on tte
tip. Body colour brown or light grey, copper red dorsally. 9
rows of scales on anterior part of body, a series of black
spots on middorsal line, black spots on lateral sides forming
a long stripe on each of the sides, head and neck black with
a yellow band on neck, two long yellow spots on head. Upper
lip sP'ttted, lower jaw and chin region verigated and forms a
yellow stripe. Belly I ight yellow or greenish yellow wi th
black dot on outer side of each ventral scales (Plate 8, b).
<
83
Habits and Habitat: Terrestrial, Found during the day time.
It hides under stones, in crevices, in dead wood and logs.
Food : I feed them on young ones of geckos and skinks in
captivity.
Distribution
Lanka only.
This species is restricted to India and Sri
Maharashtra (Nasik and Matheran), M<C:dhya
Pradesh, West Bengal and South India.
I have collected specimens from Mahi river near to
Vadodara to South upto Dangs District, from Bhavnagar and
Jamnagar Districts in Saurashtra region (Map 7).
Family VI NATRICIDAE
Natricinae Bonaparte, 1840, Mem. Acad. Sci. Tarino., : 393
Natricinae Underwood, 1967, Cont. Classi. Snakes,London,: 118
Characters Palatomaxillary arch complete, coronoid
absent. Right carotid artary absent. Fac ial bones movabl e.
No premaxillary teeth. Hemipenis symmetrical, spinous with
enlarged basal hook or hooks. Simple retina, vidian canal
generally short, alevator anguli oris muscle absent.
Posterior hypapophyses well developed. Keeled scales and
overlapping.
Distribution: Australia, Europe, Africa, Indo-China, Malaya
Peninsula, North America, Asia and East Indian Islands.
1.
KEY TO THE GENERA OF FAMILY NATRICIDAE
Midbody scales in 19 rows, maxillary teeth 18 to 35 .. , 2
Midbody scales in 25 to 27 rows, maxillary teeth 11 to 18 •.. •.. MACROPISTHODON
2. Nostrils lateral, hemipenis and sulci spermaticus simple .. ,
Nos~ils upward, hemipenis and sulci spermaticus forked •• ,
AMPHISEMA
XENOCHROPHIES
Genus 10 AMPHIESMA Dumeril and Bibron.
, Amphiesma Dumeril & Bibron, 1854, Erp. Gen., 7 724
Tropidonotus Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Br i t. India, 341
·1943, Fauna Br it. India, ~. &
Amphi.~I 281 Natrix Smith,
1960, Proc. Acad. Na t. Sc i. PIlITand.~2 4T="71
Amphiesma Ma1nate,
85
Characters: Body more or less elongated, head distinct from
the neck. Maxillary teeth 19 to 35, continuous and gradually
increasing in size, internasals broad anteriorly, nostrils
lateral. Body scales usually in 19 rows, more or less keeled;
structure of hemipenis and sulci spermaticus simple. Malnate
(1960) separated this genus from Natrix on the ba~is of the
above characters. There are eight species of this genus
recorded from India.
Distribution Austral ia and Eastern prov inces of the
Russia, Asia and East Indian Islands.
16 AMPHIESMA STOLATA (Linnaeus)
(Common striped keelback)
Coluber stolatus Linnaeus, 1758, ~. Nat., 219
Coluber stolatus Russell, 1796, Indian Serp., I : 14 & 15
Tropidonotus stolatus Bouleng~r, 1890, Fauna Brit.Inndia,:348
Tropidonotus stolatus Wall,
Rhabdophis stolatus Wall,
Natrix stolatus Shaw et. ~.,
Natrix stolatus Smith,
Natrix stolatus Deoras,
Amphiesma stolata Whitaker,
Amphiesma stolata Daniel,
1907, J. Bombay Nat. }6 : 302
1923, J. Bombay Nat. 29 : 605
1939, J. Darjeeling Soc., 13 : 121
Hist.Soc. , ----
Hist.Soc. , ----
Nat. Hist.
1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & Amph i-.-,-II I 303
1965, Snakes of India, : 110
1978, Common Indian Snakes, :18
<. 1983, Indian Reptiles, : 94
Spec imens examined 1 Q, Lingala, Shihor, Dist. Bhavnagar,
3.3.1989, ColI. V. B. Mer; 2 !i1, 10', Indroda, Dist.
86
Gandhinagar, 22.5.1989, Call. J. Golaniya; 1 ~, Dumad, Dist.
Vadodara, 15.8.1989, CoIl. M. G. Dava; 1 Q, Baska, Dist.
Panchamahals, 20.8.1989, Call. D. S. Patel; 10', Du1adha,
Dist. Dangs, 3.11.1989; 19, Vadodara, Dist. Vadodara,
20.8.1990; 10', Gira falls, Dist. Dangs, 20.10.1992.
Measurements: Total body length 30.0-55.0 cm, snout to vent
26.5-45.0 cm, tail 3.5-10.5 cm.
Characters Body cylindrical, head distinct from neck, eyes
large wi th round pupil, tail long; maxillary teeth 21 to 24,
last two enlarged. Supralabials 8 or 7, 3rd to 5th or 3rd
and 4th labial touching to the eye, loreal 1, 1 pre and 3
postoculars, temporals 1+2 or 1+1, body scales in 19 or 17
rows, keeled, outer row smooth; ventrals 150-156, cauda1s 55-
76, divided, anals 2. Hemipenis extending upto the 8th
caudal plate, forked at the extreme tip, spinose throughout,
no basal spines. Body colour olive brownish or greenish, two
buff coloured strips running from neck to tip of tail. Black
irregular crossbars on body. Head olive greenish with
whitish or yellowish supralabials with blackedges. Chin and
throat white or light yellow with black dots. Belly white or
greyish with irregular spots present on anterior part
(Plate 8, c).
Habits and Habitat Diurnal, act ive d.uring the aay time,
commonly found under stones, low bushes, grasses and gardens.
Very shy, never bites even disturbed. It spread its neck and
PLATE 8
a. Russells kukri snake (Oligodon taeniolatus).
b. Dumeril's Black headed snake (Sibynophis
subpunctatus) .
c. Striped keelback (Amphirsma stnlata).
a
,oej.
" . , .
'.':j . I b ' I , .
~-
-PLATE B
87
fore body region thus showing a beautiful blue interscale
colour.
Food : Mainly feeds on frogs and toads, small lizards and
rodents (during captivity).
Distribution : Pakistan, South China, Indo-China and India.
Common in Gujarat (Map 7).
Genus 11 MACROPISTHODON (Boulenger)
Tropidonotus Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 341
Macropisthodon Boulenger,1893, Cat. ~. Brit. Mus .. I : 265
Macropisthodon Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & Amph i. ,ITI : 3 1 4
Characters: Body rather stout, head distinct from the neck,
eyes moderate with round pupil, tail short. Maxillary teeth
11 to 18 followed by two very large backwardly pointed fangs,
separated from others by a short interval. Body scales in 19
to 27 rows, strongly keeled with apical pits, ventrals
rounded, subcaudals paired; hypapophyses developed throughout
the vertebral column. All the species of the genus have the
habi t of flattening the neck and anterior body part and of
adopting an erect cobra like attitude.
Distribution Malaya, China and India.
017 MACROPISTHODON PLUMBICOLOR (Cantor)
(Green Keelback)
Tropidonotus plumbicolor Cantor, 1839, Proc. Zool. Soc. r::olid 0 n , ---:--5"4
v
Tropidonotus ellioti Jerdon,
Tropidonotus plumbicolor Boulenger,
1853, J. Asiat. Bengal, 22
88
Soc. 523
1890, Fauna Brit. India, : 351
Macropisthodon plumbicolor Boulenger,I893, Cat.Sn.Brit. Mus., III -:-2~
1943, Fauna Brit. India,
~. & Amph i. , Macropisthodon plumbicolor Smith,
III : 314
Macropisthodon plumbicolor Deoras, 1965, Snakes of I nd ia, : II I
Macropisthodon plumbicolor Whitaker, 1978, Common Snakes,
Indian 20
Macropisthodon plumbicolor Daniel, 1983, Indian~., 97
Specimens examined : 1 S!, Nimeta, Dist. Vadodara, 7.3.1989;
1 ~, Vadodara, Dist. Vadodara, 6.6.1989, ColI. D. S. Patel; I
~, Makarpura, Dist. Vadodara, 20.6.1989; I Q, 10',
Ankleshwar, Dist. Bharuch, 15.7.1989; I ~, Saputara, Dist.
Dangs, 18.3.1990; 2 ~, Navsari, Dist. Valsad, 29.3.1990; 2
~, Gotri, Dist. Vadodara, 2.6.1990.
Measurements: Total body length 15.5-87.5 cm, snout to vent
13.0-77.0 cm. tail 2.5-10.5 cm.
Characters Body stout, head dist inct from the neck, eyes
large with round pupil, tail short. Maxillary teeth' 10 to
14, last two enlarged; supralabials 7, 3rd to 5th or 3rd and
4th or rarely 4th and 5th touching to the eye, loreal I, 1
pre, I sub (rarely subocular absent), 2 or 3 postoculars,
temporal 2+3 or 2+2; body scales in 22 or 23 22 to 25 : 17
or 18 rows, strongly keeled, outer most two rows smooth and
enlarged than others, ventrals 144-206, caudals 32-42,
89
divided, anals 2 rarely 1. Body colour light yellow green to
olive green with indistinct and irregular black cross lines.
On the head two inverted 'V' shaped black marks, yellow
colour inbetween two 'V' shaped black marks present. In
young the marks are bright and dist inct, while in adult the
marks become dull or faded. Belly greyish white, dark grey
with black spots in young (Plate 9, a).
Habits and Habitat : Found under stones, dry wood and logs.
Nocturnal, active at night. Very gentle and inoffensive
snake. Snake displays false hood by flattening the neck and
fore-body part.
Food Their main food is frogs and toads. In captivity I
feed them with the same.
Breeding : Gravid female layed five eggs on 20th June 1989,
average size of egg, is 2.72 x 1.47 cm. Other gravid female
layed five eggs without the calcarious shell on 5th April
1992. I have collected youngones during the months of July to
August.
Distribution: Sri Lanka and India. Mahi river to South .
upto Dangs District. I have also studied a preserved
specimen of M. plumbicolor in V.P. & R.P.T.P. Science
College, Vallabh Vidyanagar, District Kheda, but locality of <
collection was not mentioned, no doubt, it was from th7 near
by area (Map 7).
90
Genus 12 XENOCHROPHIS Gunther
Xenochrophis Gunther, 1840, B!.E.!.. Brit. India, 273
Xenochrophis Boulenger, 1880, Fauna Brit. India, 553
Xenochrophis Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, Amph i. ,ITI : 3 I 7
~. &
Characters Body cyl indrical, head dist inct from the neck,
snout long, eyes moderate with round pupil, nostril in a
single nasal, directed upward and outward. Body scales in 19
rows, strongly keeled, without apical pits; ventrals rounded,
tail moderate, subcaudals paired. Maxillary teeth long, 20 to
25 subsequal. Hypapophysis developed throughout the vertebral
column. Two specie5 are found in India.
Distribution Malaya, China, Taiwan, India and Sri Lanka.
18 XENOCHROPHIS PISCATOR (Schneider)
(Checkered Keelback)
Hydrus piscator Schneider, 1799, Hist. Amphi. , I : 247
Tropidonotus piscator Boulenger, 1890, Fauna. Brit. India,: 349
Tropidonotus piscator Wall, 1907, J. Bombay Na t. Hist. Soc., 12 857
Nerodia piscator Wall, 1923, J. Bombay Na t. Hist. Soc. , 29 603
Nerodia piscator Prater, 1927, J. Bombay Na t. Hist. So c . , 32 225
Natrix piscator Shaw et. !l.,1939, l. D5rjeeling Nat. Hist. Soc., 13 : 117 -- ,
Natrix pis cat or Smi th, 1940, Rec. Indian Mu s. , 42 : 483
Natrix piscator Smi t h, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. &
Amphi.~I : 293
Natrix piscator Deoras, 1965, Snakes of India, 109
91
Xenochrophis piscator Whitaker, 1978, Common Snakes of India, : 22
Xenochrophis piscator Daniel,1983, Indian Reptiles, 92
Specimens examined: 1 ~, 1 0, Narmada River, Bharuch, Dist.
Bharuch, 13.2.1989, ColI. R. Tiruvagadam; 2 Q, 1 cr, Gira
River, Bardipada, Dist. Dangs, 21.11.1989, ColI. S. A. Patel:
1 ~, Purna River, Navsari, Dist. Valsad, 6.2.1990, ColI. R.
N. Patel: 1 Q, 1 cr, Ajava, Dist. Vadodara 2.8.1990: 1 Q.,
Sabarmati River, Indroda, Dist. Gandhinagar, 17.9.1990: 1 Q.,
Mahuva, Dist. Bhavnagar, 20.10.1990; 1 ~, Dhrangadhra, Dist.
Surendranagar, 14.1.1991: 1 ~, Tapti River, Varachha, Dist.
Surat: 1 Q, 1 cr, Mahi River, Vasad, Dist. Vadodara,
20.8.1992.
Measurements : Total body length 46.5-152.0 cm, snout to
vent 34.5-114.0 cm, tail 12.0-36.0 cm.
Characters : Body stout, head dist inct from the neck, eyes
moderate with round pupil, tail long. Maxillary teeth 22 to
28 gradually enlarged posteriorly. Supralabials 9, 4th and
5th, rarely 4th only touching to the eye, loreal I, tempolals
2+3 or 2+2, 1 pre and 3 postoculars: body scales in 19 rows,
dis tinct I y kee I ed, ou termost two rows smooth: vent ral s 147-
198, caudals 80-99, divided, anals 2, rarely 1. Hemipenis
extending upto the 12th caudal plate, forked from one-third
of its length, spinose throughout, the spines being
relatively coarser at distal end than the proximal: extending
for the greater part of its length are four prominent folds,
no basal spi nes. Body colour 1 ight greenish 01 ive to dark
with five or more rows of black square spots, which forms a
checkered pattern, the checkered pattern gets faded at the
92
posterior end. head olive grey with a eye streaks. Belly
unitorm whlte. Young snake from South Gujarat region have
rosette spots on the body. whlle the others have bright
colour pattern but no roset spots (Plate 9. b).
Habits and Habitat: Active during the day. very aggressive.
bites constantly. When it is handled from the neck and the
tail left free. it creates a centrifugal motion by rotating
its body and making a large vigorous twist ing of the middle
part to escape. Found near waters like. drainage. rivers.
canal. and moist places. often comes into the houses and
gardens in search of food. particularly during the rainy
season.
Food : Feeds mainly on frogs. toads and fishes. youngs feed
on tadpoles and insects.
birds. I have observed a
occasionally takes rodents and
large sized checke~ed keelback
swimming in water. Finding a bird (common babler) on the edge
of water. it swims underwater reaching the shore. attacks the
bird. catch it and swims back to water.
Breeding I found a gravid female in the month of March
1991. It laid 72 eggs at the end ot March; the average size
of the eggs was 3.66 x 2.06 cm. Young ones ot this species
were collected from the field during the months of April to
June every year.
Distribution : Pakistan. Sri Lanka. Burma. Indo-Chinese
region. South China. Malaya and India. Mo s t c ammo n 1 n
Gujarat. Found in all the rivers. lakes and ponds (Map 7).
68 0 ?9° 70 0 7,0 72 0 V O 74° 7';i0 I I • ~ i I 001250 GUJARAT STATEi
~4°
23 0
22 0
21 0
I
20 0 I
t ~ -.... .!,
BANASI(.</ffit.\ - -\ N Palanpur • ,J
ri"'-'~-,--r?1 ) ./ . l
.:: c:r-': I.G<SANo\ \ SASARKANTH.>
~~~!IJ~~{~£--
+ S .
0 A.
II M.
t;,. X.
680 Distribution
---..(, • 4
:;._-="j~"?1 " ,-,-. ] . . ---:.~ V J ... _J\ .. ~
,t!IFYt& > / J' .~f·'\ ,-::j - - - - - - - -- -.. I (A.-..:[)tiINAGAR "-J.'- I:
- - - - - - - (~ .Q •• -' .... - .. \_. ~ ". \. --...... _)' I' ; PAN<.J{A.\~ltAlS \ A -, ..J )
! AH\ £DABAD ".--,. i l • '~J i \ I. .....'\ ~ Sl.R.£t.mANACAR \ \. .: \
i (.J ./ ~ .':' -, "''; / K>£)A ( \ • ~ t-~) )~; I ,.,;()I},
t • ..... __. ...., \ .......
i . ~'r-n r- ~i. -~. ~ • \. - /' , ~ . +.0. ~ .... '". ~ • vtQ)()()ARA -, )-.,; .. .-...... ~ . 1 00l\a-r.... ) --_-.~.... '..
KACHCHl .. Ill", J
JA\NAGAR
• Codhra
( .. (.~~-'\j (~-.... ,)
_ ... ~ ___ J .-.. ""-'; \.
oI·J -.: , ... _. ( <' ........ J ... ,..J ........ ----••
subpunctatus
stolata
2..! umbi co I or
piscator
. ,
~- ... ' " : MRElI ~ ~ ,-,./ ~ ,_,~.-_ 0._- \ _
:.... "f· .'" • ,..-.J
• '-.... i i •
.J L <....._\ -),
Jl1<AGAOH
,..-...., \ (1 , .
. ..., 1
MAP7
c! 81tARUCH . .;-
,. -.. / .
69 0 70 0
Sibynophis subpunctatus, ~enochrophis plscator.
710 Amphiesma
72° 73° stolata, Macropisthodon
74° plumbicolor ana
24°
, ( ,.
23°
22°
, '.
2t o
20°
Family VII COLUBRIDAE
Colubrini Oppel, 1811, Ord. Gatt. Farm. ~. Munich,:47
Colubridae Gope, 1893, Amer. Nat., : 480
Colubridae Underwood, 1967, Gont. Glassi.Snakes. London,: 132
Characters Facial bones movable, supratemporal attached
loosely to the skull, mandible without coronoid bone. Left
common carotid artery only present. Hemipenis asymmetrical,
simple sulcus spermaticus passing over to left side of
hemipenis, simplex retina, vidian canal generally short,
alevator oris muscle generally absent.
Distribution World wide.
KEY TO THE GENERA OF THE FAMILY COLUBRIDAE
1.
2.
3.
4.
Posterior maxillary teeth not grooved
Posterior maxillary teeth grooved •••
Maxillary teeth subequal
Maxillary teeth not subequal, posteriors longest ...
Maxillary teeth less than 19
Maxillary teeth m6re than 19
Maxilla-diastema distinct, head Shields entire, body scales smooth ••
Maxilla-diastema not distinct, head shield broken, body scales more or less keeled
• •• 2
• •• 6
. .. ELAPHE
• .• 3
• •• 4
• •• 5
ARGYROGENA
•.. SPALEROSOPHIS
5 •
6.
7.
Elaphe
Body scales 13 or 15, smooth, ventrals with distinct, notched
Body scales 15 or 17, feebly keeled, ventrals not distinct, notched
Pupil round
Pupil horizontal
Maxillary teeth 10 to 13, one or two in the middle enlarged
Maxillary teeth 18 to 20, subegual
Genus 13 ELAPHE Fitzinger
Fitzinger, 1833, In - Wagler's Descr.
Coluber Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Bri t. India,
Elaphe Smi th, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, III : 139
94
. .. DENDRELAPHIS
PTYAS
••• 7
AHAETULLA
PSAMMOPHIS
CHRYSOPELEA
I con. Amphi., : 27
: 330
~. & Amph i. ,
Characters Body elongated, cylindrical or slightly
compressed, head more or less distinct from neck, snout long,
eyes moderate with round pupil, tail long. Maxillary teeth 14
to 24, nostrils between two nasals, two anterior temporals.
Body scales in 19 to 27 rows, with paired apical pits, smooth
or feebiy keeled, ventrals rounded, subca~dals in pairs. Nine
species of Elaphe are reported from India.
Distribution Europe, North America, Asia an East Indies
Islands.
95
19 ELAPHE HELENA (DAUDIN)
(Common trinket snake)
Coluber helena Daudin, 1803, Hist. Nat. Rept., 6 : 277
Herpatodryas malabaricus Jerdon,
Coluber helena Boulenger, 1890,
Coluber helena wall, 1905,
Elaphe helena Shaw et. ~, 1939,
Elaphe helena Smi t h, 1943,
Elaphe helena Deoras, 1965,
Elaphe helena Whitaker. 1978.
Elaphe helena Daniel. 1983,
1854, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 22 : 530
Fauna Brit.India, : 331
J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. , 16 : 394
J. Darjeeling Nat .Hist.Soc., 14 78
Fauna Bri t. India, ~. &
Amph i .--;II I : 149
Snakes of India. 101 -
Common Indian Snakes. 26
Indian Reptiles. : 74
Specimens examined 1 <;!.. Saputara. Dist. Dangs. 5.2.1989.
ColI. C. B. Jah]:"; 1 !j!. Bharuch. Dist. Bharuch. 13.2.1989,
ColI. R. Tiruvengadam; 1 s;l. Dholakuva. Dist. Gandhinagar.
16.3.1989. ColI. J. A. Golaniya; 1 !;l. Avaniya. Dist.
Bhavnagar. 2.8.1990.
Measurements: Total body length 85.0 132.5 cm. snout to
vent 68.0 - 102.5 cm. tail 17.0 - 26.0 cm.
Characters Body elongated and slightly laterally
compressed. eyes moderate with round pupil. snout long. head
distinct f.rom neck. tail long. Supralabials 9. 4th to 6th or
5th and 6th. rarely 6th to 8th touching to the eye (last
supralabial very long). I pre. 2 postocular. temporals 2+2 or
2+3 or 1+2. I loreal. some times broken into 2 or 3 small
96
scales; midbody scales 25 to 27 rows, smooth or feebly keeled
with apical pits, ventrals 220 - 282, angulate laterally,
caudals 85 - lOS, anal 1. Hemipenis extending upto the 27th
caudal plate. Body colour chocolate brown with two prominent
dark stripes on the latter part of the body, anterior body
light grey or brown, less distinct 18 to 26 bands and
checkered. Head long with a dark stripe running behind the
eye to labials and some times a small stripe bellow the eye
upto labial, two dark brown prominent I ines on the side of
neck. Belly light uniform grey, but specimens from South
Gujarat and particularly Dangs District, have distinct
festooned markings on the belly (Plate 9, c).
Habits and Habitat: Nocturnal, mostly found during late
evening when they are searching for food. They live in
termite mounds, rock piles, crevices and leafy trees and
bushes. I have collected more than 50 snakes per year from
Bhavnagar City (During 1982 to 1984), where the area is
thickly populated. The snakes live in old houses and breed.
Generally this species is believed to live in the hilly
areas. Very aggres~ve in behaviour, anterior part of the body
forms a zig-zag curve and flattens late,rally to attack and
bite.
Food: Feeds on ra.ts. mice, squirrels, lizards and small
birds. First it catches the prey and than coils itself around
the prey, like boide snake, it then kills the prey by
restricting respiration with powerful muscles tpen swallows.
Distribution Pakistan and India. Common in Gujarat (Map 8).
- • '!
PLATE 9
a. Green Kellback (Macropisthodon plumbicolor)
laying eggs without calcirious shell.
b. Checkered keelback water snake (Xenochrophis
piscator) with egg cluster.
c. COlIIIlon trinket snake (Elaphe helena) in the
process of laying eggs.
'~' ..........
'.
PLATE 9
.. ~' ',L i , ,
.. , , ,
a
b
c
.llO(ot'l~ ... f.\"'I~~ II !t" '4l ~~,
97
Genus 14 PTYAS Fitzinger
Ptyas Fitzinger, 1843, ~. ~., : 26
Zamenis Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 324
Ptyas Wall, 1923, l. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 29 : 616
Ptyas Smith, 1943, Fauna. Brit. India, ~. & Amphi., III : 1~
Characters Body elongat, cylindrical, head elongateJ and
distinct from neck, eyes large with round pupil, tail long.
Maxillary teeth 20 to 28, forming" a continuous row, increasing
in size posteriorly; two or three loreal shields present, 1
preocular, body scales in 17 (18) or 15 (16) rows at midbody,
feebly keeled with apical pit, subcaudals paired, anals
divided. A single species is known from India.
Distribution Oriental region.
~o PTYAS MUCOSUS (Linnaeus)
(Common rat snake)
Coluber mucosus Linnaeus, 1758, Mus. Ad. Frid., & Syst. Nat. ,
1 : 37 226
Coluber mucosus Russell, 1776, Indian Serp., 1 : 40
Ptyas mucosus Gunthur, 1864, ~. Brit. India, 249
Zamenis mucosus Boulenger,1890, Fauna Brit. India, 324
Ptyas mucosus Wall, 192 3, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. 29 617
Ptyas mucosus Prater, 1924, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. 30 169
Soc. ,
Soc.,
Ptyas mucosus Shaw ~.~., 1939, J. Darjeeling Nat.Hist. Soc., 14 : 68
98
Ptyas mucosus Smith. 1943. Fauna Brit. India. ~. &
AmEhi. , ITI 159
Ptyas mucosus Deoras, 1965. Snakes of I ndi a • : 102
Ptyas mucosus Whitaker. 1978. Common Indian Snakes, 29
Ptyas mucosus Daniel. 1983, Indian ReEtiles, : 76
Specimens examined : 1 Q, 1 rJ. Vartej. Dist. Bhavnagar,
3.3.1989. Call. V. B. Mer; 2 ~, Rajkot, Dist. Rajkot.
3.5.1989, Call. C.B. Jahla; 1 !;l. Khijadiya. Dist. Jamnagar.
10.5.1989; 3 ~, Vadodara. Dist. Vadodara. 13.5.1989. Call.
V. A. Jadeja; 1 Q. 10. Ajawa, Dist. Vadodara, 16.7.1989; 1
rJ, Bardipada, Dist. Dangs, 2.11.1969, Call. S. S. Patel; 10',
Adalaj, Dist. Gandhinagar. 18.7.1990, Call. D. R. Chauhan; 1
Q, Bharuch, DisL Bharuch, 30.11.1990, Call. R. Tiravagadam;
1 0", Sagai, Dediyapada, Dis 1. Bha r u ch, 23.2. 1991: 1 ~, 1 0,
Shivrajpur, DisL Panchmahals, 23.4.1991; Call. D. S. Patel;
2 cr, Idar, Dist. sabarka1ha, 23.10.1991; 1 cr, Sindharot, Dist
Vadodara, 13.5.1992: 10", Harni, DisL Vadodara, 19.10.1992,
ColI. B. A. Shah; 1 ~, Bhuj, Dist. Kachchha, 26.12.1992.
Measurements : Total b0dy length 144.0-232.0 cm, snout to
vent 109.0-169.0 cm, tail 35.0-63.0 cm.
Characters Body long, <:yl indrical, head elongate and
distinct from neck, large eyes with round pupil, tail long
cylindrical. Maxillary teeth 20 to 25, supralabials 8,
• rarely 7 or 9, usually 4th and 5th, rarely 6th a~d 7th
touching to the.eye, 1 pre, 1 sub and 2 or 3 postoculars,
temporals 2+2 or 2+3. usually 2 or 3, rarely 4 small loreals;
midbody scales in 17 or 16 rows, anteriorly scale rows
99
increase to 18 to 20, only in one case decreased to 14,
posteriorly the rows decrease to 14 or 15, dorsal medians
more or less distinctly keeled, outer most 3 or 4 rows of
scales are smooth and larger than the others; ventrals 196-
293, sometimes folded or laterally notched, caudals plate,
not forked, one-third of distal ends are flounced, the folds
at the tip being much finer than those proximaUy, followed by
its almost equal length in which the flounces are much
thicker and joined together in part to form calyces; 11 to 12
lateral spines in a series and two very large spines at the
base. Body colour e
o 1 i v a c!;' u s brown, dark grey or light
mustard yellow, the colour shade depends upon the habitat.
Scales on the posterior part are irregularly margined with
black, forming a reticulate pattern with a tendency to form
crossbars. Lips and ventral scales margined with black.
Belly greyish white, dirty white or yellowish. Skin blackish
dorsally mottled with transverse streaks, hidden by scales
(Plate 10, a).
Habits and Habitat : Diurnal, active in the morning and
evening during summer, during winter found at the noon
times, resting or basking on plains or in grasslands. Often
observed on trees in search of eggs and youngones of birds.
It is a very aggressive and active species. When aggressive
it raises its head and anterior body protruding the lower jaw •
region into a po~ch, waits for some time and attacks very
quickly on the prey or enemy. During this attacking position
it produces mewling sound and vibrates the tip of the tail.
100
Found in all habitats, trees, tree hollow, dead logs, under
stones, ruined houses, in low bushes and also in open grass
lands.
Food: Takes all kinds of food that it gets like, rodents,
frogs, toads, lizards and average sized birds and snakes.
I have observed a large sized rat snake swallowing a
small kitten about a month old at the Sayaj i Baug Zoo,
Vadodara on 13th August 1989. Rat snake regularly climb up
Neem trees and find eggs and young chicks of the Rose ringed
Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) from hollows in the tree
branches. It is often found nearthe aviary in search of food.
On getting eggs or birds, it is unable to come out of the
cage due to swollen stomadl reg ion.
Breeding: I have collected gravid females during the months
of May to August (Table 4). I have also collected young rat
snakes during the months from June to September.
Distribution Afghanistan to India, Sri Lanka and far East
upto Malaya Peroinsula. Common in Guj2rat. Very common in
agricultural fiel~s and forest (Map 8).
Genus 15 ARGYROGENA Werner
Argyrogeoa Werner, 1924, Sitz. Ber. Akad. Wiss. Wien, : 51
Clouber Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. & Amphi. II I ----r;7
Characters Body elongate, cylindrical. head distinct from
neck, snout long, eyes large with round pupil, .usually snout
TABLE : 4
Egg laying, clutch and egg size of Rat snake (Ptyas mucosus)
Date of Size of Number of Average egg female eggs ina size of
* laying (SVL+TL=TBL) clutch eggs ( cm)
3.08.1987 145.0+14.0=159.0 10 5.24x2.65
6.07.1988 153.0+18.5=171.5 13 4.77x2.92
27.07.1988 150.0+18.0=168.0 1 3 4.70x2.56
26.06.1990 160.0+20.0=180.0 15 4.58x2.88
28.05.1')91 155.0+19.5=174.5 12 4.58x2.65
Average weight of eggs ( gm)
20
18
18
16
* (SVL = Snout to vent length; TBL = Total body length)
TL = Tail length;
101
projecting beyond the lower jaw, tail moderate to long.
Maxillary teeth 13 to 15, diastema distinct. Body scales in
19, 21 or 23 rows at midbody and smooth, ventrals enlarged
and rounded or with a lateral keel, subcaudals paired.
Distribution Afghanistan, Egypt, Pakistan, Persia, Israel
and India.
21 ARGYROGENA FASCIOLATUS (Shaw)
(Banded racer)
Coluber fasciolatus Shaw, 1802, Gen. Zool. , 3 : 528
Zamenis fasciolatus Gunther, 1864, ~. Brit. I nd i a, : 254
Zamenis fasciolatus Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit.lndia, : 327
Zamenis fasciolatus Wall, 1907, ~.Bombay Nat.Hist.Soc., -- -----18 : 115
Coluber fasciolatus Sm i t h, 1943, Fuana, Brit.lndia,~. & AmEhi. , III : 170
Argyrogena fasciolatus Whitaker,1978. Common Indian Snakes, : 31
Argyrogena fasciolatus Daniel, 1983, Indian ReEtiles, 78
Specimens examined : 1 Q, 1 0'. Bhavnagar, Dist. Bhavnagar,
5.5.1988, ColI. V. B. Mer; 1 Q, Jagadiya, Dist. Bharuch,
15.8.1986, ColI. R. Tiruvengadam; 1 Q, Saputara, Dist. Dangs,
1.2.1989, ColI. C. B. Jahla; 1 Q, Dharampur. Dist. Valsad,
7.8.1989; 1 if, Pavagadh, Dist. Panchamahals, 24.9.1989, ColI.
S. S. Diwan.; 1)1, Sarkhej, Dist. Ahemdavad, 5.10.1989.
Measurements: Total body length 32.5-106.5 cm, snout to
vent 26.0-86.0 cm, tail 6.5-20.0 cm.
102
Characters Body elongate, cylindrical, head distinct from
neck, snout projecting, eyes large with round pupil, tail
long. Supralabials 7 or 8, 4th and 5th touching to the eye, 1
pre, 2 postoculars, temporals 2+3, body scales in 21 or 23
19 or 17 rows, smooth with apical pit, ventrals 185 - 277,
caudals 75 - 95, divided, anal 1. Hemipenis extending upto
the 14th coudal plate. Body colour 1 ight or dark brown,
uniform in adult, youngs are beautiful with white spotted
crossbands on anterior part and faded on posterior part,
head with white spots. Belly uniform light yellow (Plate
10, b).
Habits and Habitat: Diurnal but active in the evening time,
found in grass lands, bushes and scurb land, agricultural
land, lives in rodent's burrows, rock crevices, under stones
and logs.
Distribntion Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India. Common in
Gujarat (Map 8).
Genus 16 SPALEROSOPHIS Jan
Spalerosophis Jan, 1865, De Fillipi. Viagg. Persia, : 356
Spalerosophis Schmidt, 1930, Field Mus. Nat.Hist. Zool., 17:"226
Coluber Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit.India. Rept. ~ Amphi., III :167
Characters: Body long, cylindrical, head distinct from neck,
eyes large with round pupil, snout long. Head shields not
entire or some head shields particularly prefrontals, oculars
and temporal are fragmented. Body scales more or less keeled,
103
in 21 or 27 - 43 rows at midbody. Maxillary teeth 14 - 18.
diastema absent or very slight. Anals undivided. Two species
are reported from India.
22 SPALEROSOPHIS DIADEMA (Schlegal)
(Royal snake)
Coluber diadema schlegal.
Zamenis diadema Boulenger.
Zamenis diadema Wall.
Spalerosophis diadema Schmidt.
Coluber diadema Smith.
Coluber diadema Deoras.
1837. Phys. Serp •• 2 : 148
1890. Fauna, Brit. I nd i a. : 328
1911. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. , 20 : 1035
1930. Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Zool .• 17: 10'7
1943. Fauna Brit. India.~. & Amph~III : 173
1965. Snakes of India. : 104
Spalerosophis diadema Whitaker. 1978. Common Indian Snakes. : 33
Spalerosophis diadema Daniel. 1983. Indian Reptiles. 80
Specimen examined 1 !;l. Dhanera. Dist. Banaskantha.
5.5.1988.
Measurements: Total body length 160.0 cm. snout to vent
126.0 cm. tail 34.0 cm.
Characters: Body long. cylindrical. head distinct from neck.
snout long. large eyes with round pupil. tail long. 16-18
a teeth on maxillary bone. d~tema feebly developed. head
shields not entire. supraoculars 10. preocular 1. postocular
3 and a series of suboculars separating the labials and eye.
lower labials 12. 6th is very small than the others. loreal
104
2; body scales in 29 rows at midbody, on neck region 29 and
near vent 24, keeled, outer most five rows on both sides are
smooth and gradually increase in size towards the ventrals;
ventrals 270, caudals 118, anals 2. Body colour orange with
irregular black markings through the body, head jet black and
shining, belly pinkrose (Plate 10, c).
Habit and Habitat : Diurnal, found in aried and semiarid
areas. Commonly under rocks and thorny bushes. I have also
got a report that Rayal snakes are active at noon during the
hottest time of the day. Very active and when excited it
froms a zig-zag shape of his forebody and attacks. While
attacking it hisses very loudly. Most beautiful snake
commonly seen with snake charmers. In Kachchha the local
people call it "Kumbaro", but I could not collect any
specimens from Kachchha. Achariya (1940) reported one from
Bhal region, but I have not seen any, at the same time there
are no reports from the local people.
Food: Prefer mainly rodents but also feeds on lizards, frogs
and small birds on which I feed them in captivity.
Distribution: North Africa, Persia and Jammu & Kashmir,
Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in India. Dhanera, Dist.
Banaskantha in Gujarat (Map 8).
Genus 17 DENDRELAPHIS Boulenger
Dendrophis Fitzinger, 1826, Neue Classi. Rept., 29 30
Dendrelaphis Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, : 337
·,
PLATE 10
a, Rat snake (Ptyas mucosus).
b. Banded racer (Argyrogena fasciolatus).
c. Royal snake (Spalerosophis diadema), norn"l
colour and melanistic form .
•
t!' I
I ' I
r r ' f., " •
- • • .
" . • . 'j.-
.. • . f -
PLATE 10
-~--- ... •
" ·1 "J ," . ~
-
105
Dendrophis Wall, 1921 , Rec. India Mu s. , 22 151
DendrelaEhis Wall, 1921, Rec. India Mu s. , 22 151
DendroEhis Wall, 1923, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 29 : 623
Ahaetulla Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. &
AmEhi. , ~ : 239
Characters: Body elongate, head distinct from neck, eyes
large with round pupil, tail long. Maxillary teeth 20 to 34,
the posterior 3 or 4 slightly larger, loreal region more or
less concave. Body scales smooth, in 13 or 15 rows, all
except the outer row narrow, with single apical pit, ventrals
enlarged with a suture like lateral keel, and a notch on each
side, corresponding to keel. Hypapophyses absent on posterior
vertebrae. Seven speices are reported from India.
Distribution: South-East Asia, Islands of Indonesia and
Malaysia to Eastern Australia.
23 DENDRELAPHIS TRISTIS (Daudin)
(Common bronzeback tree snake)
Coluber tristis Daudin,
DendroEhis Eictus Boulenger,
DenarelaEhis tristis Boulenger,
DendrelaEhis tristis Wall,
DendrelaEhis tristis Prater,
1803,
1890,
1894,
1909,
1924,
Hist. Nat. --Fauna Brit.
Cat. Sn. 11 88
J. Bombay Soc. , 19 :
J. Bombay Soc. , 30 :
~., 6:430
I nd i a, : 337
Br it. Mu s. J
Nat. Hist. 347 & 7~
Nat. Hist. 170
DendrelaEhis tristis Shaw ~.~,1940, J. Bengal Nat. Hist. Soc., 14 : 111
106
Ahaetulla tristis Smi th, 1943, Fauna Brit. India,~. & Amj2h-Y-:--;-III : 248
Dendrelaj2his tristis Whitaker, 1978, Common Indian Snakes, : 35
Dendrelaj2his tristis Daniel, 1983, Indian Re]2tiles, 85
Specimens examined: 1 ~, Hingolgadh, Dist Rajkot, 3.3.1989;
19, Junagadh, Dist. Junagadh, 4.5.1989; 19, Makarpura,
Dist. Vadodara, 20.8.1989; 1 cr. Bhavnagar, Dist. Bhavnagar,
12.12.1989; ColI I. R. Gadhavi.
Measurements: Total body length 35.0 - 122.0 cm, snout to
vent 23.0 - 84.5 cm, tail 12.0 - 37.5 cm.
Characters: Body elongate, head distinct from neck, eyes
large with round pupil, tail very long. Supralabials 9 or 8,
4th and 5th or 5th and 6th touching to eye, 1 pre, 2
postoculars, temporals 2+2, body scales in 15:15:11 rows,
smooth, ventrals 172 - 192, more enlarged and cotched on each
side, caudals 115 128, divided, anals 2. Hemipenis
extending upto 8th coudal plate, undivided. Body colour brown
and grey, with a dark bronze brown stripe dorsally through
the body length; upper lip and chine white, some times upper
lip scales black edged, belly uniform pale grey. Posterior
part of each body scale is with black edge which forms a band
(Plate II, a).
Habits and Habitat True arboreal species found on trees,
small bushes and some times in grasslands. Very active during
the day time, very swiftly moving on branches in search of
food. I have often observed this snake falling from tree
107
during noon time at Kileshwar Temple, Barada Wildlife
Sanctuary, Dist. Jamnagar.
The snake displays an inflatted neck and shows a
metallic blue and black interscale colour, when excited. The
snake performs a strange undulating movement by the neck and
forebody while resting on branch of the tree.
Food: Mainly geckos and other arboreal lizards are its food
and also attack on small birds.
Distribution Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India. Uncommon, but
reported from all parts of the Gujarat State (Map 8).
Genus 18 CHRYSOPELEA Boie
Chrysopelea Boie, 1826 Feruss. Bull. Sci. Nat., 9 237
Chrysopelea Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, : 371
Chrysopelea Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~.& Amphi. III :250
Characters Body elongate, head distinct from the neck,
snout long, eyes rather large with round pupil, tail very
long. Maxillary teeth 20 to 22, the last 3 or 4 a little
larger tha~ the others and grooved. Midbody scales 17:17:15,
smooth or feebly keeled, oblique with apical pits, ventrals
with a suture like lateral keel and a notch on each side
corresponding to keel, subcaudals in two rows, ~eeled and
notched like the ventrals. Hypapophyses present or' absent on
the posterior vertebrae.
68° p9 0 7,00 710 72° 13 0 74 0 7~0 I i ~'j ~ 00125 0
2.40
23 0
22°
21 0
20 0 I
0 E.
0 P.
0 A.
+ s .
A D.
... ~
KAOlCffl o
• I3hu j
o
JMNACAR
+ t BANASKANTliA \ N
Palanpur _ } (
t;'-- ,' ....... , ,.,,/ '-----...-, I ~ ) I
.,/ \ --:..r--~ AQj~ l SABARlWffii..\ =---=-, •• 0
- -=.. ---"'\, t • Himatnagar -=,= = ="?1 _', ,-r-. • ; , - - - :.~ .. ../ I .... - ... \ .' .' = =- --= = -= - /' / r -, _ .-I" -------'\,. - . .-~ ....... .... ..." ==-===-=----, ;~ / J.O} t f_-1
(' ; (.A..\I[)H I NACAR :=z.,.-\_--,:: . \- . ..0"' .. , i
,. "'-. --'-"'-'" ~ • PA."KJtA.\'AH.ALS \ ..., r;J'.: ) . ! Nf.EJ.ABAI) ,-_ .... -. /. Codlva
I • '~J ,.J. \ j. I ' --.... SlRENCAANACAR \ \. • i
i ") ./ : .l .....: ~_; . __ ,-; L ;<0. '. ,,; KHEDA ,. • l
'--. ), ... " '!.n ' r;-...) --; I i 0-0 : \ i .:."r-v-.-" j • ' __ ,./ ( • \. - /' " .- 6.. 00 ..... \ \--1 '\..J'.. ........ ~ () VADJOARA
i "..). ._._-...... ~\ . ..... _.\: 00'l\1JT A .. \ _ .. _.,
j" ."~,, ,~"'. j ". (r/-... .. -----/(' : ... : l 't " 1"-.. --. .• ./ ; -j ~ --J
': ,""-I, 0 '-~ ~ ~--<' " '. .0 BHAR\)()1
helena
mUC05US
fasciolatus
diadema
tristis , ,
.. \ -, ..J MRELI ~ 0 .... "1 ro' •. _ ........ \ _
:'.' ' '';. .F
-e:. . ..-.... '-.. . . I
JLNAGADH , .
J t. __ " c.,_\ 1,
'" ... -''1 \ ~ ;, .... ~ • :
MAPS
o
r-,.
68 0
Distribution 69° 70 0 710 72 0 7"5 0 74 0 Elaphe helena, Ptyas mucosus, Argyrogena faciolatus, Spalerosophis diadema and Dendrelaphis trlstlS.
24 0
, ( ~.
/'
23 0
22°
, "
21 0
20 0
108
This genus is recorded for the first time from Gujarat
State.
Distribution I
Ol~ental region and East Indian Islands.
24 CHRYSOPELEA ORNATA (Shaw)
(Ornate flying snake, Golden tree snake)
Coluber ornata Shaw, 1802, Gen Zool., 3 : 477
Chrysopelea ornata Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, : 371
Chrysopelea ornata Wall,
Chrysopelea ornata Smith,
Chrysopelea ornata Smith,
Chrysopelea ornata Deoras,
Chrysopelea ornata Whitaker,
Chrysopelea ornata Daniel,
1908, J. Bombay Nat.Hist. Soc., 18 227
1940, Rec. Indian. Mus., 42:412
1943, Fauna Brit. India,~. & Amph~III, 251
1965, Snakes of India, : 107
1978, Common Indian Snakes,: 37
1983, Indian Reptiles, : 87
Specimen examined 10', Saputara, Dist. Dangs, 14.10.1987,
ColI. C. B. Jahla.
Measurements: Total body length 77.5 cm, snout to vent 56.5
cm, tail 21.0 cm.
Characters Body elongate, head distinct from the neck,
eyes large with round pupil, tail very long. Body scales
feebly keeled, outer most rows smooth with apical pits, in ,
15:17:14 rows, supralabial 10, 4th to 6th touching to the
eye, 1 loreal, 1 pre and 2 postocular, temporals 2+2,
ventrals 220, last two not entire, caudals 128, ventrals and
<:audals nct:hed on each side, anals 2. Body colour black with
109
pale greenishyellow, 74 crossbars on the body with dorsal
rosete spots, belly light yellowish (Plate II, b).
This species is recorded for the first time from
Gujarat State.
Distribution Indo-Chinese region to Burma and HongKong,
India; West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh. Dangs
District from Gujarat (Map 9).
Genus 19 PSAMMOPHIS (Leach)
Macrosoima Leach, 1819, In Bowdich's Miss.Ashantee.,4:493
Psammophis Fitzinger,1826, Neue Class. ~., 29 & 30
Psammophis Boulenger,1890, Fauna Brit. India, 365
Mike Smith,
Psammophis Smith,
1928, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 1(10) : 495
1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & Amphi., III, 3-61-
Characters: Body cylindrical, head distinct from neck, eyes
moderate or large with round pupil, snout long, tail long.
Maxillary teeth 10 to 13, one or two in the middle more or
less enlarged, fang like, preceded and followed by an
interspace, the last two much enlarged, grooved and directed
strongly backwards. Midbody scales in 17 rows for all
oriental species, smooth, more or less obI ique, ventrals
rounded. Hypapophyses absent on the posterior vertebrae.
Four species are known from India.
Distribution Africa, Persia, Arabia, Pakistan and India.
110
25 PSAMMOPHIS LONGIFRONS (Boulenger)
(Stout sand snake)
Psammophis 10ngifrons Boulenger, 1896, Cat. Sn. Brit. Mus., "3"": 165
Psammophis longifrons Wall,
Psammophis longifrons Smith,
1924, {. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 29 875
1943, Fauna Brit. ~. & III : 365
India, Amph i. ,
Specimens examined 1 ~, Antroli, Dist Surat, 6.7.1987,
ColI. Tiruvengadam; 1 ~, Chikhali, Dist. Valsad, 4.4.1988.
Measurements: Total body length 90.0-97.0 cm, snout to vent
80.0-92.0 cm, tail 20.0-25.0 cm.
Characters Body long, cylindrical and stout with smooth
overlapping scales, head distinct from neck, snout long, eyes
moderate with round pupil, tail long. Maxillary teeth 12,
1st. 6th or 7th and the last are very strongly fanglike
enlarged. Supralabials 8, 4th and 5th touching to the eye, 1
pre, 2 postoculars, temporals 3+3, lower labials 10 or 9, 6th
IS larger than the others, internasals prespnt, 1 loreal,
ventrals 165-169, caudals 45(+)-80, anals 2. Body colour
light olive brown, scales edged with" black, belly white or
creamy white (Plate II, c).
Habits and Habit'at : Diurnal, found under bushes or grasses,
climbs on small trees in search of food, very active and
aggressive.
~ ..
PLATE 11
a. Common bronzeback tree snake (Dendrelaphis
trist is).
b. Flying snake (ChrysopeJea ornata).
c. Stout sand snake (Psammophis Jougifrons).
, ,-
PLATE 11
111
Distribution : India; Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Rare
in Gujarat, only found from Valsad and Surat districts for
the first time. It has been reported by Smith (1943) from
the Panch~mahals District of Gujarat State (Map 9).
26 PSAMMOPHIS LEITHI Giinther
(Leith's sand snake)
Psammophis leithii Gunther, 1869, Proc. Zool. Soc., London, : 505
Psarnmophis leithii Stolliczka,1872, Proc.Asiat.Soc.Bengal, :83
Psammophis leithii Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, : 365
Psammophis leithii Wall, 1907, J. Bombay Na t. Hist.Soc., IS 203
----: 120 &
Psammophis leithi Smi th, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~.& Amphi.~I : 366
Psarrmophis leithi Deoras, 1965, Snakes of India, 114
Specimens examined 1 9, Bhalgamada, Dist. Surendranagar,
4.3.1989, ColI. L. N. Vadi; 1 cJ"Ajidam, Rajkot, Dist. Rajkot,
1. 2 • 1 990, Co 11. C. B. Jahla; 1 !;2, Vadodara, Dist. Vadodara,
8.3.1991.
Measurements: Total body length 54.0-67.0 cm, snout to vent
83.5-45.0 cm, tail 15.5-22.0 cm.
Characters Body long, thin and cyl indrical, head dist inct
from neck, snout long, eyes large with round pupil, tail
long. Maxillary teeth 10 to 12, mellians slightly enlarged.
Suprnlabials 8, 4th and 5th touching to the eye, 1 pre and 2
postoculars, temporals 1+2, 1 lo,""al, large. Body scales
17:17:12 rows, smooth, ventrals 160-172, caudals 89-96,
112
divided, anal 1. Body colour yellow with four dark brown
longitudinal stripes with black margins. Supralabials light
yellow and lower labials yellow with dark brown spots, belly
light yellow but median region lemon yellow (Plate 12, a).
Habits and Habitat Diurnal. Commonly found in rocky
terrain or in small bushes and grasslands. Terrestrial
habits but often climbs on small bushes to catch the food,
mostly lizards.
Sand snakes are very widly distributed in the state.
Also very common in the little run of Katchcha as stated by
Majithia of Wild Ass Sanctuo~y, Dharangadhra.
Distribution Pakistan and India. Western India, upto
Poona, Fyzabad (Uttar Pradesh) and Chilas (Kashmir) in North. e.
Wi~y distributed in Gujarat but uncommon species (Map 9).
Genus 20 AHAETULLA Link
Ahaetulla Link, 1807, Beschr. Nat. Samml Rostock,: 73
DendroEhis Fitzinger, 1826, Neue Class. ~., 29 & 30
DendroEhis Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 296 ---DendrelaEhis Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 339
DendroEhis Wall, 1921 , Rec. Ind. Mus. , 22 151
DendrelaEhis Wa 11, 1921, Rec. Ind. Mus. , 22 151
DryoEhis Srni th, 1943, Fauna Bri L India, ~. & /I mE hi. -;------rr I 370
Cbaracters Body very long and compressed, head elongate,
disti~ct from neck, with strong canthus rostralis and concave
113
lares, eyes large, transversely oval, with horizontal pupil,
tail very long. Maxillary teeth 12 to 15, the anterior 6 or
7 gradually enlarged, the last two suddenly enlarged with
grooves. Vertebral row slightly enlarged, ventrals rounded or
with an obtuse lateral keel, sUbcaudals paired. Five species
of Ahaetulla are reported from India.
Distribution i
O~ental region, Celebes and Philippines.
27 AHAETULLA NASUTUS (Lacepede)
(Common vine snake)
Coluber nasutus Lacepede, 1789, Hist. Nat. ~., 1 -1-00 &2 : 277
Dryophis mycterizans Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India,:370
Dryophis mycterizans Wall, 1905 , J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. , 16 3~ & 3~
Dryophis rnycterizans Prater, 1924, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. , 30 : 172
Ahaetalla nasuta Stejneger, 1933, COEeia, 203
Dryophis mycterizans Shaw ~.~.,1941, l. Bengal Soc., 16
Na t. :63
Hist.
Dryo!::,his nasutus Smi th, 1943, Fauna Br it. India, ~.& Amph i . , I II :376
Dryophis nasutus Deoras, 1965 , Snakes of I nd i a, 1 13
Ahaetulla nasutus Whitaker, 1978, Common Indian Snakes, : 41
Ahaetulla nasutus Daniel, 1983, Indian Rel2tiles, 102
Specimens examined 1 9, Saputara, Dist. Dangs, 1. ],1989,
Call. C. B. Jahla; 1 <j!, 1 d', Sagai, Dediyapada, Dist.
Bharuch, 13.2.1989, Call. R. Tiruvengadam; 1 ~, Dharampur,
Dist. Valsad, 11.11.1989; 1 <j!, Junagadh, Dist. Junagadh,
114
4.5.1990; I Q, Maroli, Dist. Valsad, 4.2.1992, Call. S. S.
Patel.
Measurements Total body length 106.0-136.0 cm, snout to
vent 67.0-83.5 cm, tail 39.0-52.5 cm.
Characters: Body thin, long and laterally compressed, head
distinct from neck, snout long beak like, projecting dermal
appendage, eyes large, iris golden with horizontal pupil,
tail very long. Maxillary teeth 12 to 15, anterior 6 or 7
gradually enlarged and posterior last two enlarged grooved
fangs. Supralabials 8 or 9, only one supralabial, 4th or 5th
touching to the eye, I pre, I sub and 2 postoculars,
temporals 1+2, body scales in 15:15:11 rows, smooth, dorsal
row larger than the others, ventrals 186-208, laterally
notched, caudals 154-175, divided, anals 2, rarely 1. Body
colour bright green, belly light green, a yellow line along
the outer margin of the ventrals, chin, throat and
supralabials white. Snake displays black and white inter
scale colour in the anterior part of body by inflattening the
neck and anterior region.
Habits and Habitat Diurnal and arboreal. Common 1 y f au nd
on trees, clinging or hanging on the top most branch. Very
swift, moves from one branch to other branch with the support
of even very thin twigs.
It is usually gentle, but when caught freshly and
alarmed, it rears its head with open mouth, expanded lower
jaw and forebody compressed, displaying black and white
1 1 5
chequered interscale colour and then strikes to bi teo This
true arbouriel species drinks dewdrops from leaves by the
help of long beak I ike dermal appendage. This long dermal
appendage is used as a siphon and suction force is created
due to the movements of the lower jaw and water is sucked.
Food Lizards and small birds. In captivity I have fed
them with garden lizards and geckos.
Distribution Burma, Indo-Chinese region, Sri Lanka and
India. Vine snake is common from Narmada River to South
Dangs, Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary, Devgadha Baria,
District Panchamahals and Gir forest and surrounding area of
Girnar Hills, District Junagadh in Gujarat (Map 9).
28 AHAETULLA PULVERULENTUS (Dumeril & Bibron)
(Brown vine snake)
Dryinus pulverulentus Dumeril & Bibron, 1854, ~. Gin.,7:812
Passerita purpurascens Gunther, 1864, ~.Brit. India,:306
Dryophis pulverulentus Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit.lndia,:371
Dryophis pulverulentus Wa 11, 1919 J. Bombay Na t. Hist. Soc.,22:63
Dryinus pulverulentus Sm it h, 1943, Fauna Br it. India, ~.& Amphi., III: 378
Specimens examined 1 Q, Pimpari, Dist. Dangs, 1.1.1989,
ColI. C. B. Jahla; 1 Q, El)dhania, Sasan, Dist. Junagadh,
5.4.1989, ColI. N. Pandya.
Measurements: Total body length 106.0-129.0 cm, snout to
vent 67.0-70.0 cm, tail 39.0-51.0 cm.
1 I 6
Characters Body very long and compressed. head elongate
with long beak like dermal appendage and distinct from neck,
eyes large with horizontal pupil, tail very long.
Supralabials 8, 5th large and touching to the eye, 1 pre, 1
sub and 2 postoculars, lower labials 8 or 9, temporals 1+2,
body scales in 15 rows, ventrals 186-198 with lateral keel,
caudals 154-168 and divided, anals 2 or I. Body colour dark
grey or light brown with black transverse spot. Body scales
smooth, overlapping, edges dark, dorsal vertebral row larger
than the others. Supralabials and lower jaw white. Belly
light grey with three dark grey lines running along the body
length (Plate 12, b).
is This species J,being recorded for the first time from
Gujarat State.
Habits and Habitat True arboreal. living on small bushes
and shrubs and medium sized trees.
Food Feeds mainly on lizards and geckos, some times it
also attacks small birds.
Distribution Sri Lanka and India Western Gnats,
Gujarat; Dangs Districts and surrounding area of Gir National
Park, Sasan, Dist. Junagadh (Map 9).
PLATE 12
a. Leith's sand snake (Psammophis leithi).
b. Brown vine snake (Ahaetulla pulverulentus).
'!" .1 • r •
a
__ .b
_____ ~4~~
PLATE 12
68 0 p9° 70 0 7'0 72° '\}O 74° 7~0 I i j ~' i ' :oj 250 GUJARAT STATE I
s4°
~3°
22 0
21 0
I 0
Cl
•
t ~ ~~. ~~n}- Pa'anpu'. {
N " --r IlANASKl.NTHA - -)
A-- --:~-.-.----- "'"' r--....J 0f~1tjl~~~$~~'J5W: /J'~ ( . ~
~ - -~~ -. - ~----- AGlSAN< . SABARMIITHA ~ : (------ -'. . ..1,- -. -
-=~ ?'~f.-:~~·}-/:i~'-
C.
P.
P.
-------~-=.':..--- - =----1 I' H matnagar
~ ::.::.=----- C:::~~-';'''"~,-,-. : .' .. ". :=:.- -"Y I "J\ .' !
= = --= = =. ,/ / --"'..,..., .... "': --'--. ' ---==--==== \ .. .i., ( :" -I KAOlCH '., / CA."OH I NACAR '_j.'._\ .' ,;-
ornata
longifrons
lei th i
(!_- ".-... , ~-- - l nANOtA.\~\HALS ' "-'-' / )-' ..,. . \. ! AH."EOABAO ,---•• - i. God"r. I • ~""! J ~\ ;. J!. I, .... ~ SlRENOOANACAR \ ~ ) \
: {.",1 ." ~ ,/ ",: tviE!:lA ." L _ \:' ,
-. } ~" . ~J ---; I !"I,...... ..... _'"\,; ~ • . ·'r-· rl- I \ ~~ . A._
•• -', ,-'\-J. \_ ~--.; .. . ...r ...
,_ ; OOl<.tIT : ...... -- \ .. ' ~""-~-' .. j
"" ... : l ~
L--~) .-.. ,,-..; \ \, .... -~ : MREU "
~ '-' . ..-..{ :
.. Ohuj
~~. r i ( ......
JM ..... GAR
(_ .. ..--. I {1: .. '---' ,-'
VAlXlOARA
... .. ? '--.I'~--.. .. ---,-. - - ,I
• BttARUOi • "'; ,-- -'-, . /" ..... I .
• .-.1 .... . . { I •
....J ' ". JLt/AGADH
,",--,.-~---.--~. "\~ .. ..... .... ""1..-,._-_.
1"" " {._-" '--'-.. l
; ......... ) \ ,i .. ~
\ ... . "
!
SUftAT -
,.
200 ~ • A • nasutus
+ A. pulverulentus
68 0
Distribution
..
69 0 70 0
Chrysopelea ornata, A. pulverulentus.
MAP9
710 720 7~0 74° Psarrmophis longifrons. P. lei th i Ahaetu II a nasu tus and
24°
.' ! ' .
23 0
22°
, ,
21 0
20°
Family VIII HOMALOPSIDAE
Homalopsidae Gunther, l864,~. Brit. India, 275
Homalopsinae Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 372
Homalopsinae Smith, 1931, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 398
Homalopsinae Smith, 1943, Fauna Ampl1C
B r it. I n d i a, B.~E.!.' I1T-, 37g----
Homalopsinae Underwood, 1967, Cont. Classi. Snakes, London, ITO
&
Characters Palatomaxillary arch complete, coronoid absent,
frontal step on parasphenoid, trabecular ridge usually
present on frontals, posterior grooved fangs-
ophisthoglyphous present, pupil usually vertical.
Hypapophyses developed throughout the vertebral column. The
family is further divided into three subfamilies viz.,
1. Homalopsinae, 2. Boiginae and 3. Dasypeltinae.
lJistributioD South-East Asia, Indo-Austral ian Archipelago
to North coast of Australia, New Guniea and Tropical Africa.
1.
KEY TO THE SUBFAMILIES OF THE FAMILY HOMALOPSIDAE
Nostril not valvular and on the lateral side of the head, terrestrial habitat, ventrals well enlarged, eyes moderate
Nostril valvular and on the upper surface of the head, aquatic habitat, ventrals rather narrow, eyes small ...
••• 2
.,. HOMALOPSINAE
2. Hypapophyses of the anterior thoracic vertebrae penetrating the wall of the oesophagus,
I 18
teeth reduced ... •.. DASYPELTINAE
Hypapophyses of the anterior thoracic vertebrae not developed trabecular ridges sometimes absent from frontals
Subfamily BOIGINAE
... BOIGINAE
Dipsadomorphinae Boulenger, 1896, Cat. ~. Brit. Mus., 3 : 26
Boiginae, Underwood, 1967, Cont. Classi. Snakes, London, III
Characters Frontal step on parasphenoid, trabecular ridges
some times absent from frontals, prefrontal bears a distinct
retromaxillary process, septomaxilla without an ascending
process J an unusual condition. Tubercles and pits present on
head and trunk scales. The hemipenis is divided. Duplex
retina and pupil vertical. Terrestrial habitat.
Distribution Africa, Indo-Australian Archipelago, Asia,
Madagascar.
Genus 24 BOIGA Fitzinagar
Boiga Fitzinagar, 1826, Neue classi. ~.,: 29,30&60
Dipsas Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 357
Dipsadomorphus Boulenger, 1896, Cat. ~. Brit. Mus., : 59
Dipsadomorphus Wall,
Boiga Smi th,
1924, J. Bombay Nat. 20 : 869
Hist. Soc.,
1943, Fauna Brit. Amph i . , ---yyy
India, 344
&
1 19
Characters Body more or less compressed, head triangular
and dist inct from neck, eyes large wi th vert ical pupil, tail
moderate or long. Maxillary teeth 10 to 14, subequal in size,
followed by 2 or 3 enlarged grooved fanges; palatine teeth
often strongly enlarged; ectopterygoid more or less
distinctly forked anteriorly; hypapophyses present on the
. b a posterIor verte r~. Body scales smooth, more or less oblique
with apical pits and in 19 to 29 rows; ventrals rounded or
obtusely angulate laterally, subcaudals paired.
Distribution Tropical Africa, Tropical Australia and
Southern Asia.
29 BOIGA TRIGONATA (Schneider)
(Common cat snake; Indian Gamma)
Coluber trigonata Schneider,
Dipsas trigonata Boulenger,
1802, in Be c h s t , t ran s. La c e p. , 4: 256
1890, F'auna Brit. India, 358
Dipsadomorphus trigonata, Boulenger, 1 896 , Ca t. S n . Mus, III-:-62
Brit.
Dipsas trigonata Wall, 1905, J. Bomba) Nat.Hist.SJc.,
16 307
Dipsadomorphus trigonata Wa 11, 1907, J. Bombar Nat.Hist.Soc. , 18 120
Dipsadomorphus trigonata Shaw e t . ~. , 1940, J. Bombar Na t. Hist. Soc. , 15 : 64
Boiga trigonata Smith, 1943, Fauna Br i t. India, ~. & A-Tlph~ III :349
Boiga trigonata Deoras, 1965, Snakes of India, I 12
Boiga trigonata Whitaker, 1978, Common Indian Snakes,:42
Boiga trigonata Daniel, 1983, Indian Rept il es, 99
120
Spec imens exami ned 1 9, Thansarvav, Dist. Panchamahals,
10.6.1989, ColI. D. A. Patel; 1 Q, Dumad, Dist. Vadodara,
23.8.1990, ColI. D. D. Gaikwad; 1 if, Miyamatar, Dist.
Vadodara, 27.8.1992, ColI. M. M. Chauhan.
Measurements Total body length 44.0-87.5 cm, snout to vent
37.0-74.0 cm, tail 7.0-13.5 cm.
Characters Body long and compressed, head large and very
distinct thin neck, eyes large with vertical pupil, tail
long. Maxillary teeth 8 to 12, posterior teeth enlarged with
grooved fangs. Supralabials 8, 3rd to 5th touching the eye, 1
pre and 2 postoculars, temporals 2+3, 1 loreal, body scales
21:21:15 rows, smooth, ventrals 230-245, caudals 76-88,
divided, anal 1. Hemipenis extending upto 12th caudal plate,
the distal half is calyculate, the cups being thick walled
and feebly scalloped, ventral surface with a number of coarse
fleshy spines, 16 in lateral series, the proximal half
spineless. Body colour greyish brown with dark brown or tan
coloured zigzag marking, the top of the head has a 'Y' mark,
a narrow dark streak from postocular to angle of the
belly rufous with dark brown spots (Plate 13, a).
jaws,
Habits and Habitat Nocturnal. Arboreal, found in bushes,
scrubs and trees. When at rest, they coil themselves into a
ball, hides in very thick covered vegetation.
Food Geckos, lizards, small mice and birds & thire eggs.
1 2 1
Breeding I have collected a gravid female during the month
of June. A gravid fel1ale laid nine eggs and young 'ones came
out after 48 days, the average size of eggs is 3.1xl.l cm.
Distribution Pakistan, Sri
Common in Gujarat (Map 10).
Lanka and n
Penfular India,
30 BOIGA FORSTENI (Dumeril & Bibron)
(Forsten's cat snake)
Triglyphodon forsteni Dumeril & Bibron, 1854, ~.Gen.,1:1077
Dipsas forsteni Gunther, 1864, ~. Br i t. 1 nd i a, : 309
Dipsas forsteni Stoliczka, 1871 , 1.Asiat.Soc. Bengal,40:439 -Dips~~ forsteni Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Br it. India, : 362
Dipsadomorphus forsteni Wall,1909, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 19 : 757
Boiga forsteni nlll,
Boiga forsteni Smith,
Boiga forsteni Daniel,
Specimen examined
ColI. C. B. Jahla.
1924,1. Bombay Nat. His!. Soc., 29 : 874
1943, Fauna Brit. India,~. & Amph i .--;-li' I : 358
1983, Indian Reptiles, :101
1 ~, Saputara, Dist. Dangs, 3.3.1988,
Measurements: Total body le~gth 137.0 cm, snout to vent
110.0 cm, tail 27.0 cm.
Chara~ters : Body long cylindrical, head trilngular distinct
from neck, eyes large with vertical pupil, tail long.
Maxillary teeth 9, last one is enlarged as a h.ng, anterior
palatine teeth strongly enlarged. Body scales in 29:31:18
122
rows, supralabials 9, 3rd to 5th touching the eye; I pre and
2 postoculars, temporals small 2, I loreal, internasal
present, posterior pair of genials larger than the first
pair; ventrals 266 and notched at both the lateral sides,
caudals 108, divided, anal 1. Body colour dark brown with
light fawn pattern of zigzag markings, a dark long mark on
the head from frontal to the end of parietal, a thick dark
chocolate streak behind the eye to the angle of the jaw.
Supralabials light fawn with dark brown edges, lower jaw
durty white; belly uniform light yellow orange, belly scales
notched and forming a fold (Plate 13, b).
Habits and Habitat Nocturnal, active from late evening to
night. Found on small trees, bushes and scurbs. We 11
camouflage with dry twigs.
Food Commonly feeds on lizards and small birds. In
captivity I feed on mice, calotes, geckos, sparrows and
bulbuls.
Daniel (1963) has reported this species for the first
time from Dangs forest of South Gujarat region.
second report from the same area.
This is the
Distribution Sri Lanka and India; Western Ghats, Ganges
Valley, Orissa, West Bengal and Rajasthan. Dangs forests.
Dist. Dangs, Gujarat (Map 10).
PLATE 13
a. Cormnon cat snake (Boiga trigonata) with egg
shells.
b. Forsten's cat snake (Boiga forsteni).
... ~ .
• r-" .
",J . ..... .. ,' ~
PLATE
. .
1 3
.. ... a
b
123
Subfamily HOMALOPSINAE
Homalopsidae G~nther, 1864, ~. Brit. India, 275
Homalopsidae Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 372
Homalopsinae Underwood, 1967, Cont. Classi. Snakes, 110
Characters Aquatic. The braincase is conservative.
Dentition well developed, the last two, sometime three
maxillary teeth grooved and usually enlarged. Nostril
crescentic on the upper surface of the snout. Head shields
often broken up. Hypapophyses developed throughout the
vertebral column. Hernipenis divided. No pits or tubercles on
scales on trunk and belly.
Distribution South - East Asia (I ndia to China) through
Indo-Australian Archipelago to the North coast of Australia.
Genus 22 CERBERUS Cuvier
Cerberus Cuvier, 1829, ~. Anim., II : 81
Cerberus Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 374
Cerberus Smith,
Cerberus Smith,
1930, Bull. Raffles Mus., 3 : 61
1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & Amphi., III :~
Characters Body stout, cyl indrical, head more or less
distinct from neck, eyes small, tail moderate. Maxillary
teeth 12 to 17. Body scales in 21-29 rows, parietal shields
broken up into small scales, ventrals well developed,
subcaudals paired.
124
This genus is being recorded for the first time from
Gujarat State.
Distribution Indo-China, Sri Lanka, Malaya Peninsula and
Archipelago, Borneo, Philippines and India.
31 CERBERUS RHYNCHOPS (Schneider)
(Dog-faced water snake)
Hydrus rhynchops Schneider,
Elaps boaeformis Schneider,
Cerberus rhynchops G"unther,
Cerberus rhynchops Boulenger,
Cerberus rhynchops Annandale,
Cerberus rhynchops Wall,
Hurria rhynchops Wall,
Cerberus rhynchops Smith,
Cerberus rhynchops Deoras,
Cerberus rhynchops Whitaker,
C~rberus rhynchops Daniel,
1799, Hist. Amph i . , I : 246
1801 , Hist. Amph i . , I I : 301
1864, ~. Brit. India, 279
1890, Fauna Br it. India, 374
1905, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 176
1905, J. Bomba y Soc., 16 :
1 92 4, J. Bomb a y Soc., 29
Na t. 307
Nat. 887
Hist.
Hist.
1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & Amph~III : 393
1965, Snakes of India, : lIS
1978, Common I ndian Snakes, : 44
1983, Indian Reptiles, : 105
Specimens examined I Q, Mahi River at Dabaka, Dist.
Vadodara, 2.3.1'189; 19., Tapti river, Surat, Dist. Surat,
4.4.1990, ColI. R. B. Patel; I ~, Purna river, Navsari, Dist.
Valsad, 15.5.1991.
Measurements: Total body length 44.0-72.5 cm, snout to vent
36.5-60.2 cm, tail 7.5-12.3 cm.
125
Characters : Body long, head distinct from neck, snout long,
eyes small with vertical pupil, tail short and less
compressed. Maxillary teeth 12 to 17. Nostrils upper and
connected with the first labials, loreal single and large,
supralabials 9 to 10, 5th and 6th below the eye and separated
by one or two subocular shields, I pre, 2 post and I or 2
suboculars; temporals small, body scales in 23-25 rows at
midbody, strongly keeled; ventrals 140-150, caudals 50-62,
anals 2. Body colour dark grey or olivaceous with distinct
black crossbars, belly dull black with spots and chin portion
bu ff.
There are reports by Smith (1943), Deoras (1965),
Whitaker (1978), Daniel (1983) and Murthy (1987) on the
occurrance of this species in peninsular India, Bombay and
surrounding, Bombay to Cochin and Orissa, but not from
Gujarat. So, I can claim that this species is being recorded
for the first time from Central and South Gujarat region
(Mahi, Narmada, Tapti, Purna and Ambica rivers'
Gujarat state.
a estuJ.;"ies) ,
Habits and Habitat Nocturnal, active at night, during the
day time rests in crab's holes or rockey cliffs near the
shore line. Very fast swimmers.
Food Fishes and frogs & toads.
Distribution Found on the coasts of India and near the
mouths of rivers from Pakistan to Bombay to Cochin, Andaman
and Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, East upto Malaya Peninsula.
126
a e In the estuli~s of rivers Mahi to South upto Daman Ganga in
South Gujarat (Map 10).
Genus 23 GERARDIA (Gray)
Gerarda Gray, 1849, Cat. ~. Brit. Mus., : 77
Campylodon Dumeril, 1853, Mem. Acad. Sci., France, 23 499
Gerardia Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, : 379
Gerardia Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & Amphi., III :394
Characters Body cyl indrical, eyes small wi th vert ical
pupil, head not distinct from neck, with large shields,
nasals separated by an internasal, loreal present, tail
short. Maxillary bone extending beyond the palatine, with
11 to 13 teeth followed by two strongly enlarged backwardly
projecting grooved fangs, mandibular teeth subequal. Body
scales smooth in 17 rows, ventrals well developed, subcaudals
paired. Only one species is ;L
class~ied under this genus. (\
This genus is being recorded for the first time from
Gujarat State.
Distribution Sri Lanka, Burma, West coast of Malaya
Peninsula and India.
32 GERARDIA PREVOSTIANA (Eydoux and Gervais)
(Glossy marsh snake)
Coluber prevostianus Eydonx & Gervais, 1832-1837, Guer. ~ Zool. Classi., 3 : 5
Gerarda bicolour, Gunther, 1868, Ann. ~ Nat. His t . , (T) I : 421
·Gerarda bicolour Theobald, 1876, ~.Brit.India, 180
Gerardia prevost ina Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, : 379
127
Gerardia prevost ina Wall & Evans,1900, J. Bombay. So~.,13 : 616
Nat. Hist.
Gerardia prevost ina Wall, 1924, J. Bombay. Na t . Hist. Soc. , 29 : 86-8 -
Gerardia prevost ina Prater, 1924 , J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. , 30 : 17-1 -
Gerardia E:revQstina Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & Amph~ III : 394
Specimen examined 1 ~, Purna river, Navsari, Dist. Valsad,
2.2.1988.
Measurements Total body length 60.0 cm, snout to vent 52.0
cm, tail 8.0 cm.
Characters Body cylindrical, head not distinct from neck,
tail short, eyes small with vertical pupil, supralabials 7,
4th only touching the eye, 1 pre and 2 postoculars, temporals
1+2, loreal not in contact with internasal, nostrils upwards
and in the nasal, infralabials 9 and 2 pairs of genia1s, the
anterior pair much larger. Body scale in 18:17:15 rows,
smooth, ventrals 154, caudals 34 and divided, anals 2. Body
colour uniformly dark grey, upper lip and lower jaw white and
outer three rows of scales white or light grey, belly white
or light grey with dark grey edges.
This species is being recorded for the first time from
Gujarat.
Distribution Coastal waters of India (Bombay, and Malabar
Districts) to East upto Malaya Penins"la, Sri Lanka and
Burma. a ,
Est,,!;"es of river Purna, District Valsad in Gujarat
S tat e (Map 10).
~80 p90 7,0 0 710 __ 12": VO
7.40 77~ 250
I GUJARAT STATEj Ik§-t
~4°
23°
22°
21°
20 0 I
~ --......!'
J --- --~--.: - --,....._. ------, -- = =:--- - - - --::_-:..-----:;
K.\:rtCH~
• Ohuj
.,.
JMNACAA
BANASKANTliA - -, Palanpor • J
( t;'-. ,--.....1 /, . .:.... I/, l - ..... I ., )- ~ I
.l'.-' ( ::: =-r- /,ffiSAN>. I SABARKAIfTH,\
:-----1. •
,-- ~ ! .... ../ i ,_.r, : ./ / /' " l ,. ._'1"."Io ...... ~ .-r: '0.. / J .: r ,-r> -;
, ( I CA.'lOH I NAGAR "'-1-"- i ._-l
\
.... .~-... -.-)'.-•• ' p'- \-":, ..., • r ! i ! AI" EDABAD ~-~ ) . .... ,-- . ~ l' ! , SllUNlRANAGAR. ,~. ,), . .". ' .
J ," ~ , ,
N
P A!'-K .. HA. '. 'oJ./I,Al5
• Codhra
. c. ,.... .... ~ :. .,/ ~ r ~I )" , J<HED.\ .' \
'!- "" ~ , .......... I
l· \ ~·r--'V'· ( I 1\ ... / . . .... \ \ r· .. -/ ~. -' • • r-""-'
. D 1 __ -" oJ
i ... p-'" \ -..... __ "\ l ~aT I -_..... ~ VAlXJOARA
j._. ..r" ",' :. "" ... ,,--of" roo (_.: I.·---· .. ~~i \" ""'-:: a . . .. ~
_ ... ~ .,: -"-,;: \ ,..J •• -----
a B. trigonata
• B. forsteni
• C • rhynchops
0 C. prevostiana ..
6BO 690
~_"",.--c'. .,r...... ,-.,i" ....
! .• ~ ,. .. ~-' .. ---{ A\RELI
70°
;'.' -.. . / I •
• L..... , ... ~.l i i
Jtn\CAO/l C \" .. ""'-')
\ .i .. ,
MAP10
720 73 0 74°
r-; .
,/ ! ' . ,
, ,
Distribution Boiga trigonata. B. 7t o
forsten i. Cerberus rhynchops and Cerarda prevostiana.
24°
23 0
22 0
21 0
20 0
Fami! y IX ELAPIDAE
Elapidae Boie, 1827, lsi s, 510
Elapidae G·unther, 1864, ~, Brit. India, 337
Elapidae Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 382
Elapidae Smith, 1943, Fauna Br it. India, ~. & AmEh i . , III 4~
Elapidae Underwood, 1967, Cont. Classi, Snakes, London, 106
Characters The maxilla is flexibly connected to the
ectopterygoid which extends posteriorly above the pterygoid,
the pterygoid usually reaches the quadrate. The coronoid is
absent from the mandible. The anterior maxillary tooth is a
large erect poison fang with its groove from the poison gland
more or less closed (proteroglyphos). Posterior hypapophyses
present. Hemipenis sulcus spermaticus forked. The family is
further divided into two subfamilies. Elapinae and
Hydrophinae.
Distribution They are worldwide distributed in all the
warmer parts, excep~ for Madagascar and New Zealand. Not
found in Europe today. Sea-snakes a-e found from the Persian
Gul£ to Central America, except for a Phillippine lake
species. Strongly represented in Australia.
KEY TO THE SUBFAMILIES OF THE FAMILY ELAPIDAE
1. Body cylindrical, nostril lateral, tail cylindrical and long, terrestrial, habitat •..
Body more or less compressed, nostril upwards, tail laterally compressed, aquatic habitat
ELAPINAE
.•. HYDROPHINAE
129
Subfamily ELAPINAE
Elapidae Boie, 1827, Isis, 570
Elapinae Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 382
Elapinae Underwood, 1967, Cant. Classi, Snakes, London, 107
Characters: Poison fangs attached to the anterior end of the
maxillary bone, usually followed by one or more small solid
teeth. Head shields normal, except for loreal which is always
absent, tail cyl indrical. Hyapophyses developed throughout
the vertebral column. Terrestrial habitat or freshwater.
Distribution: Tropical and subtropical regions of the world,
strongly represented in Australia and absent in Europe.
KEY TO THE GENERA OF THE SUBFAMILY ELAPINAE
1. Maxillary bone not extending forward beyond the palatine, scales not oblique, the vertebral series strongly enlarged ••• .•• BUNGARUS
2 .
Maxillary bone extending forward beyond the palatine, vertebral series of scales not enlarged 2
Body scales in ~3-l4 rows throughout the body, scales not oblique .•• CALLOPH IS
Body scales in 15-25 rows at midbody, disposed obliquely, more on the neck, which is dilatable
Genus 24 BUNGARUS Daudin
Bungarus Daudin, 1803, Mag. Encycl. Anim., 8(5)
Xenurelaps Gunther, 1864, ~. Brit. India, : 344
NAJA
434
130
Bungarus Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Br it. India, 387
Bungarus Wa II , 1 908 , 1. Bombay Nat. Hist. So c . , 18 711 - --Bungarus Wall, 1928, Pais, Snakes India, 1 I
Bungarus Smi t h, 1943, Fauna Br it. India, ~. & AmEhi., III 407
Characters Body cyl indrical, head not dist inct from neck,
eyes moderate or small with round pupil, tail moderate.
Maxillary bone not extending forward beyond the palatine
bone, poison fangs followed by 2 to 4 small teeth; head
shields normal, loreal absent, body scales smooth, in 13 to
19 rows, vertebral row strongly enlarged, hexagonal,
subcaudals single or some of them paired. Nocturnal. Five
species are inhabiting in India.
Distribution Indo-China, South China, Malaya and Celebes,
Pakistan and India.
33 BUNGARUS CAERULEUS (Schneider)
(Common Indian krait)
Pseudoboa caerulea Schneider, 1801, Hist. AmEhi., 2 : 284
Bungarus arcuatus Dumbril & Bibron, 1854, Erp. Gen., 7 1272
Bungarus caeruleus Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 388
Bungarus sindanus Boulenger,
Bungarus condidus Wall,
Bungarus caeruleus Wall,
Bungarus sindanus Wall,
1897, {.Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., II : 73
1907, {.Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 18 : 122
1907, {.Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 18 : 101 ::--:r16
1908, {.Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 18 : 716
Bungarus caeruleus Wall,
Bungarus caeruleus Smith,
Bungarus caeruleus Deoras,
Bungarus caeruleus Whitaker,
Bungarus caeruleus Daniel,
1 3 ]
]928, Pois, Snakes India, I 1
1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & Amphi~II : 413
1965, Snakes of India, 1 1 6
1978, Common Indian Snakes,: 49
1983, Indian Reptiles, ]07
Specimens examined 1 Q, 1 0', B h a r u c h , Dis t. B h a r u c h ,
1 3 • 2 • 1 9 8 9, Co 1 I. R • T i r u vag a dam; 1 if, I n d rod a, Dis t .
Gandhinagar, 16.3.1989, ColI. J. Go1aniya; 1 ~, Bhavnagar,
Dist. Bhavnagar, ]0.6.1989, ColI. B. H. Patel; 10', Saputara,
Dist. Dangs, 30.8.1989; 1 Q, Visnagar, Dist. Mehsana ColI.
M. G. Dave; 1 ~, Chanpaner, Dist. Panchmahals, 26.9.1992,
ColI. B. A. Shah.
Measurements Total body length 33.0 103.0 cm, snout to
vent 28.5 - 90.0 cm, tail 4.5 - 13.0 cm.
Characters Body long and cyl indrical, head less dist inct
from neck, snout short and round, eyes small, tail short.
Supralabials 7 or some times 8, 3rd and 4th rarely 4th and
5tn touching the eye, 1 pre and 2 postoculars, temporals 1+2,
body scales in 15 to 17 rows at midbody, vertebral row
enlarged and hexagonal, scales smooth and glossy, ventrals
212-256, caudals 45-55, undivided, anal 1. Body colour black
or bluish black with 25 to 30 paired white crossbars,
distinctly narrow on dorsal and widen on the sides. In older
snakes the white crossbars are anteriorly absent and only the
large white spots on vertebral region are present. Belly and
132
upper lip are white, some times the chin and upper lip are
light yellow, a white preocular spot is present (Plate 14,a).
Habits and Habitat Nocturnal, commonly found in the
vicinity of human habitation, ruined houses and scrub
jungles.
Food: In captivity I feed them mice, geckoes, garden lizards
and other small snakes.
Distribution Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India. Common in all
the parts of Gujarat Sta t e (Map 1 1 ) .
Genus 25 CALLOPHIS (Gray)
Calloiphis Gray, 1834, 111. Ind. Zool., 2 : 136
Callophis Giinther, 1859, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 79
Callophis Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 383
Calloohis Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, Rept. & Amphi., III :~
Characters Body cylindrical, elongated of almost equal
diameter throughout, head not distinct from neck, tail short.
Maxillary bone extending forwards beyond the palatine, poison
fangs followed after an interval by from 0-5 small teeth;
head shields normal, loreal absent, nostril between two
nasals, eyes moderate with round pupil, body scales smooth,
subequal, in 13 or 15 rows throughout the length, subcaudals
paired, some times unpaired in C. macclellandi. Five species
of coral snakes are reported from India.
I 33
This genus is being recorded for the first time from
GUjarat State.
Distribution Indo-China, China, Japan, Philippine, Pakistan
and India.
34 CALLOPHIS MELANURUS (Shaw)
(Slender coral snake)
Coluber melanurus Shaw, 1802, Gen. Zool., 3 : 552
Callophis trimaculatus Gunther, 1859, Proc. Zool. LOiidon, :83
Soc. ,
Callophis trimaculatus Giinther, IB64, ~.Brit. India,: 350
Callophis trimaculatus Boulenger,I890, Fauna Brit. India,:384
Ca 11 oph i s melanurus Wall, 192 5, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. J 30 : 244
Callophis rnelanurus Wa 11, 192 8, Pois. Snakes, India, 33
Callophis melanurus Smith. 1943, Fauna Br it. Ind~a,
~.& Amph i . , 111:420
Callophis melanurus Deoras, 1965, Snakes of India, : 119 -
Callophis melanurus Whi taker, 1978, Cormnon Indian Snakes, : 52
Callophis melanurus Dan i e 1, 1983, Indian Reptiles, 1 1 1
Specimens examined 1 f;l, Val sad, Dis t. Val sad, 1 0 . 7 . 1 989 ,
\ ColI. N. A. Patel; 1 d', Saputara, Dist. Dangs, 18.8.1990;
1 ~, Duldha, Dist. Dangs, 29.10.1992, ColI. S. S. Patel. 1 0',
Hathab, Dist. Bhavnagar, 11.9.1993, ColI. I.R. Gadhavi.
Measurements: Total body length 27.5 - 30.0 cm, snout to
vent 26.0 - 29.5 cm. tail 1.5 - 2.5cm.
1 34
Characters: Body cylindrical and of equal diameter from neck
to tail, head not distinct from neck, eyes moderate with
round pupil, tail short. Supralabials 6, 3rd and 4th touching
the eye, 1 pre and 2 postoculars, temporals 1+2, body scales
in 13 rows, smooth, ventrals 250-276, caudals 25-30, divided,
anals 2. Body colo~r light brown and each scale speckled with
brown thus forming a series of longitudinal lines, head black
with two yellow spots on occiput and a small yellow spot
behind these two spots, tail with two black bands, one at the
base and the other on the tip of the tail, belly yellowish
with red coral colour (Plate 14, b).
This species is being reported for the first time from
Gujarat State. It is said that the common coral snake
inhabits the Gir National Park, Sasan, Dist. Junagadh, but
it's a doubtful report. No authentic report is traceable from
the literature.
Habits and Habitat Found under stones and dead wood near
moist places. lance got a dead specimen from Hingolgadh near
Jasdan, Dist. RaJkot in the rainy season, (September
October (Unpublished observation) in the year 1979.
Food Feeds on worm snakes and insects.
Distribution Sri Lanka and India. Hingolgadh forests and
Hathab, Dist. Bhavnagar in Saurashtra region and Dangs
forests in the South Gujarat (Map 11).
1 35
35 CALLOPHIS NIGRESCENS Gunther
(Striped coral snake)
CalloEhis nigrescens Gunther, 1892, Ann. Mag. Nat. HisL, 9 ( 3 ) : 131
CalloEhis nigrescens Gunther, 1864, ~. Br it. I nd i a , : 351
CalloEhis nigrescens Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit . India,: 384
CalloEhis nigrescens var. khandallensis Wall, 1913, ~.Bombay. Nat. Hist. Soc., 22:638
Hemibungarus nigrescens Wa 11, 1928, Pois. Snakes India,: 35
CalloEhis nigrescens Smi th, 1943, Fauna Brit.India, ~. & AmEh~ III : 422
CalloEhis nigrescens Deoras, 1965, Snakes of India, : 120
Specimen examined 1 !;l, Saputara, Dist. Dangs, 25.10.1988,
CoIl. C. B. Jahla.
Measurements: Total body length 57.8 cm, snout to vent 51.4
em. tail 6.4 cm.
Characters Body cylindrical, elongate, with head not
distinct from neck, eyes moderate, tail moderate.
Supralabials 7, 3rd and 4th touching the eye, 1 pre and 2
postoculars, lower labials 10, body scales in 13 rows a~d
smooth, ventrals 245, caudals 45 and divided, anals 2. Body
\ is uniform black, with a white oblique bar on the nape, a
white streak behind the eyes to the angle of the mouth on
both the sides, a white streak from preocular to labial and a
white spot on each parietal scale, belly coral red. Usually
C. nigrescens is having five dark stripes on the body but a
subspecies khandallensis Wall (1913) from Khandalla,
136
Maharashtra is without stripes or stripes are obscured (Plate
14,c).
This species is being recorded for the first time from
Saputara (hilly region of the Dangs forests), Dist. Dangs,
Gujarat.
Habits and Habitat: Nocturnal, found under stones, dead wood
and logs. Very active during the rainy season.
Distribution India Western Ghats and Saputara, Dist.
Dangs, Gujarat (Map 11).
Genus 26 NAJA Laurenti
Naja Laurent i, 1788, ~. B.!:.E..!.., : 90
Hamadryas Cantor, 1836, Asiat. Rec., 19 : 87
Dendraspis Fitzinger, 1843, ~. B.!:.E..!. • , : 28
Ophiophagus GUnther, lQ64, B.!:.E..!. • Br i + • India, : 341
Naja Wall, 1928, Pais. Snakes India, : 28
Naja Smit h, 1943, Fauna Br it. India, ~.& Amph i. , III : TI6
Characters: Body cylindrical, head less distinct from neck,
dilatable in the asiatic species, the anterior ribs being
\ elongate, eyes moderate with round pupil. Maxillary bone
extending forward beyond the palatine, poison fangs followed
by from 1 3 small teeth. Head sl;Jields normal, loreal
absent, nostrils between anterior and posterior nasal
shields, body scales smooth, disposed obliquely, in 13 25
rows at midbody but at anterior near neck region increase and
a •
,
PLATE 14
Common krait (Bangarus caeruleus) eating a
comma n wo I f s n a k e ( !c . a u I i c us) •
C. Slender coral snake (Callophis melanurus).
b. Striped coral snake (Callophis nigrescens).
. - .. ~
r'
> c .,i' .
PLATE 1L.
1 37
at posterior near vent decrease. subcaudals usually paired. A
single species is reported from India.
Distribution Africa. Southern Asia and Malayasia.
36 NAJA NAJA (Linnaeus)
(Indian cobra)
Coluber naja Linnaeus.
Naja tripudians Gunther.
1758. ~. Nat. : 221
1864. ~. Brit. India •• : 338
Naja tripudians Boulenger. 1890. Fauna Brit. India. : 391
Naja tripudians Wall.
Naja naja Smith.
1928. Pois. Snakes India. : 23
1943. Fauna Brit." India. ~. & Amphi •• ITI : 427
The Indian cobra (Naja naja) is distributed in South-
East Asia from Afghanistan to India. and upto Malayan
Archipelego. This species is defined into ten subspecies on
the basis of colour and hood pattern. Ir. India three
subspecies are reported viz •• "Spectacled" or binocellate
form (~~) from the Peninsula of India; monocellate
form (naja k,-,outhia) fro'Il Orissa and Bengal and a barred form
orb 1 a c k cob r a (n a j a 0 x ian a) form Nor t h - We s t I nOd i a •
NAJA NAJA NAJA (Linnaeus)
(Binocellate or Spectacled cobra)
Coluber naja Linnaeus.
Naja naja naja Smith.
1758. ~. Nat. 221
1943. Fauna Brit. India. ~. & Amph i •• ITI : 427 & 431
Naja naja naja Whitaker. 1978. COrmJon Indian Snakes. 55
1 38
Specimens examined: 1 Q., Navsari, Dist. Valsad, 9.9.1988;
1 Q., Bharuch, Dist. Bharuch, 13.2.1989; 2 Q, Vadodara, Dist.
Vadodara, 1.9.1989;
Col I • R. S • Patel;
13.1.1990, Co I I • D.
I
2
Q.,
Q.,
A •
Nadiad, Dist. Kheda, 5.10.1989,
Chanpaner, Dist. Panchmahals,
Patel; 1 !;(, Bhavnagar, Dist.
Bhavnagar, 13.4.1992, ColI. I. R. Gadhavi; 10', Sasan, Dist.
Junagadh, 25.5.1992, I 0', Saputara, Dist. Dangs, 24.6.1992,
CoIl. K. S. Bhatt; I Q, Bhavnagar, Dist. Bhavnagar,
24.8.1992, CoIl. I. R. Gadhavi; I Q., Kamarej, Dist. Surat,
31.8.1992; I ~, Modasa, Dist. Sabarkantha, 20.10.1992; I Q,
Sarakhej, Dist. Ahemadabad, 22.10.1992, CoIl. A. B. Sharma; 2
0', Dhrangadhra, Dist. Surendranagar, 1.11.1992, CoIl. M. M.
Sheth.
Measurements Total body length 64.0 164.0 cm. snout to
vent 13.9 - 54.5 cm. tail 9.5 - 25.0 cm.
Characters: Body cylindrical, head less distinct from neck,
eyes moderate with round pupil, tail moderate, poison fangs
on maxilla. Supralabials 7, 3rd and 4th touching the eye,
loreal absent, 1 pre and 3 postoculars, temporals 2+3, body
scales 21-25 in rows, smooth, ventrals ~85-266, caudals 45-
64, anal I, some times 2. Body colour varies from dark brown
to light green, black and greenish yellow according to the
habitat, belly colour light. Hood markings or patterns are
very different. Specimens from South Gujarat and particularly
from Dangs District have yellowish body colour and a distinct
"Binocellate" mark on hood, from South to 'lorth Gujarat and
Saurashtra region, specimens have dark black or brown and
1 39
samet imes a very I ight cream colour with very I ight or less
distinct or broken "Spectacled" mark on the hood (Plate
IS, a).
Habit and Habitat: Most common species in Gujarat inhabiting
all kinds of habitats. This species is active during the day
time, from early morning to late evening and night too.
Usually lives in rat holes, under rock piles and termite
mounds. It is found more in the cultivated land and near
human vicinity.
Food Rodents, frogs and toads, lizards, small nonvenomous
snakes and also birds and their eggs.
Breeding I usually collected gravid females during the
months of May and June every year and young cobras are born
in the months from July to September (Plate IS, b).
Distribution: Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India, Very common in
all the parts of Gujarat (Map 11).
NAJA NAJA OXIANA (Eichwald)
(Black cobra)
Tomyris oxiana Eichwald, 1831, Zool. ~., 3 : 171
Naja oxiana Boulenger, 1889, Tr. Zoo 1. Soc., 5 (2) : 103
Naja naja oxiana Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & Amphi., ~: 428 & 434
Specimens examined: ~, Ikbalgadh, Palanpur, Dist.
Banaskantha, 3.8.1988; 1 ~, Adipur, Dist. Kachchha,
27.12.1993.
140
Measurements Total body length 65.0 130.0 cm. snout to
Nent 57.0 - 118.0 cm. tail 8.0 - 12.0 cm.
Characters: Body cylindrical, head less distinct from neck,
eyes moderate with round pupil, tail moderate. Supralabials
7, 3rd and 4th touching the eye, no loreal, temporal 2+3, 1
pre and 3 postoculars, body scales 21-23 in rows, ventrals
188-210, caudals 65-73, anal I. Body colour uniform black or
dark brown, no marking on the hood, belly light in colour.
Habits and Habitat: Lives under stones, rodent holes, wooden
logs, under thorny bushes and farm lands and gardens.
The habits, food and behaviour of this subspecies are
simila:r to that of Naja naja naja.
Distribution Pakistan, East Afghanistan and North-West
India. Kachchha and Banaskantha Districts in Gujarat (Map
11) .
Subfamily HYDROPHINAE
Hydrophidae Boie, 1827, lsi s , 41 0
Hydrophidae Sm i t h, 1926, Monogr. Sea Snakes, 1
Hydrophidae Smith, 1943, Fauna Br it. India, ~. &
Amehi . , IT! 439
Hydrophinae Underwood, 1 967, Co n t. CIa s s i . T09
Snakes, London,
Characters Choanal and maxillary ,proc'ess of the palatine
are absent in all sea snakes. Tail compressed. Ventral scales
are reduced, frontal and parietal may meet below optic nerve.
Marine habitat.
2_4 0
23 0
22 0
21 0
20 0 I
68 0 p9° 7,00 710 72 0 ~3° 74 0 7~0 I ~ ii' =1250
GUJARAT STATEi
a 0
• II!
lEI
~ ..1, --- --=---.: - --
-------,......_. ---- - ---- - - - --:.:---:.-----
, .. ·j·-r:'
• JA\NAGAR
.-' \ ( ~'.
: ....... --_ .... )
:-.:
• OO"l<.OT
t BANASKJ.~'THA \ N
Palanpu r • } "" , . " ,--...., _I .~, ,/ (
r '-! ,:./ {
~ ~r-- AUiSAW. [J ! SA8ARIWlTHA ~ --.~ . -~--- -. Ai. Himatnagar
• """'.J' ' ~ .... ~J ... -\ ..' aJ.-( ,/ . ........£ ............. :.~ ... .-I~ ,:., I j.o.- t :" I , ! (.AN[)H I NA(..\R .. _,...., i ._-l , . ,;.' \ .". \ w -'-.., ...... -....... -j--~ .. , (-- - I. PANOIA.\~fiALS
( ( AH.£DABAD ts,. __ .... -.... / ;. • ;- I ).
..... ~ S~CAR \ ~-. I ~ l f jEll )\
( ......~ L',.r",. .~. ': • __ ";--j I _ . .J~,. \
-. I )"; ... ,I a . !..... '-'" • : 1"""':1 1 .... r~ '. ! tiB \: ____ 1
\. /~ . I • m. "---" . " r,...; \ ...... IP ) -.; ... -',.. . VACODAR.A ':.--.... 1 ... _ .... \.. \ ..... ,
• Codhra
" tJ
( ;"\ ,..i·--.... ··----· ~, ! ,~-_.- , • -, ) )"RELI '; .ill8HARcOCH
_." ~ ..... ~-:~-.
B. caeruleus
C. melanurus
C. nigrescens
Naja naja naja
Naja naja oxiana
69 0 70 0
'.-":' ('-J .. _- \: t:J :..... -.. . /'
I .
• , ,...... ~ f
Jl.t<AGADH . .. ..J t __ C .. _, ."
\ "-"
... ..-...") . \ ~
\ '''~
MA Pll
7t o 720 73 0 74°
,-
68 0
Distribution Bungarus caeruleus, N. n. I'Iyi::ln;:\l
Callophis melanurus, C. nigrescens, Naja n. naja and
24 0
.' { ,
23 0
22° r
, ,
21 0
20 0
141
Distribution : The coasts of Asia from the Persian Gulf to
Southern Japan, and through the Indo-Austral ian sea to the
Coast of Australia. One species, Pelamis platurus is widely
distributed.
KEY TO THE GENERA OF THE SUBFAMILY HYDROPHINAE
1.
2.
Ventrals distinct throughout •••
Ventrals not distinct and divided by median longitudinal fissure
Mental elongate, 3 to 5 Maxillary teeth •. ,
Mental normal, 1 to 18 Maxillary teeth •..
...
Genus 28 ENHYDRINA Gray
Enhydrina Gray, 1849, Ca t. ~. Br it. Mu s ., : 47
Enhydrina Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 405
Enhydrina Smith, 192 6, Monogr. Sea Snakes, : 36 --Enhydrina Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~.
III : 449
2
PELAMIS
ENHYDRINA
HYDROPHIS
& Amphi, •
Characters: Body elongate, compressed, head small, eyes
small with round pupil, tail short and compressed. Maxillary
bone not extending forward as far as palatine, poison fangs
small and followed after an interval by 3 or 4 teeth. Head
shields normal, nostril on upper surface of the head, mental
shield narrow, elongate, partly hidden in a groove in the
symphysis. Body scales imbricate or subimbricate in 49 - 66
rows on the thickest part of the body, ventrals distinct
142
throughout, a little broader than the adjacent scales. Only
one species is reported from India.
Distribution Persian Gulf to the coast of India and upto
North Coast of Australia.
37 ENHYDRINA SCHISTOSA (Da~din)
(Hook-nosed sea snake)
Hydriphis schistosa Daudin, 1803, Hist. Nat. ~., 7: 386
Enhydrina valakadien Boulenger,1890, Fauna Brit. India, 406
Enhydrina valakadien Prater, 1824, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. , 30 : 17-4 -
Enhydrina schistosa Smit h, 1926 , Monogr. Sea Snakes, : 36 --
Enhydrina schistosa Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & Amph~ III : 449
Enhydrina schistosa Whitaker, 1978, Common Indian Snakes,:63
Enhydrina schistosa Daniel, 1983, Indian Reptiles, : 118
Specimen~examined : 1 ~, Gopnath, Dist. Bhavnagar, 2.5.1988;
I ~, Jafrabad, Dist. Amreli, 20.8.1988; I cf', Veraval, Dist.
Junagadh, 6.6.1989; 1 ~, Bet Dawarka, Dist. Jamnagar,
8.8.1990.
Measurements: Total body length 58.0 110.0 cm. snout to
vent 50.0 - 98.5 cm. tail 8.0 - 11.5 cm.
Characters Body elongate and compressed, head small, less
dist inct from neck, the upper jaw protruding over the lower
jaw, poison fang is just before 3rd or 4th maxillary teeth,
rostral higher than broad, nostril superior, nasals in
contact with one another. Supralabials 7 or 8, 3rd and 4th or
143
some time only 4th touching the eye, 1 pre and 2 postocu1ars,
1 temporal, mental narrow, elongate, partly hidden in a
groove in the symphysis, 40 - 50 scale rows on the neck and
50 - 60 at the thickest part of the body, the scales are
imbricate or subimbricate with keel, ventrals 240 - 310,
distinct, preanals feebly enlarged. Body colour very
variable, youngs bluish grey with well marked black bands
often broadened dorsally, with age bands disappear and remain
only dorsally, belly very light grey or yellow.
Food Feeds on fishes.
Distribution: Persian Gulf to New Guniea, Common in Indian
Sea, common on sea coast of Gujarat State (Map 12).
Genus 28 HYDROPHIS Latreille
Hydrophi.s Latreille, 1802, Hist. Nat. ~., 4 : 193
Hydrophis Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 398
Distria Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 407
Hydrophis Smith,
Hydrophis Smith,
1926, Monogr. Sea Snakes, : 40
1943, Fauna Bri t. India. ~. & Amphi., III :451
Characters: Body elongated, laterally compressed, head small
with eyes moderate or small, head shields entire, tail short
and flat. Maxillary bone not extending forward beyond the
palatine, poison fangs small and followed after an interval
by from 1 - 18 teeth; nostrils upward on the face, nasals in
contact with one another, body scales imbricate,
subimbricate, or juxtaposed, and at thickest part in 29 - 57
144
rows, ventrals less developed, usually distinct throughout,
not much broader than the adjacent scales. Ten species of
Hydrophis are reported from the Indian coast.
Distribution Coasts of Asia to North coast of Australia.
38 HYDROPHIS SPIRALIS (Shaw)
(Yellow sea snake)
Hydrus spiralis Shaw, 1802, Gen. Zool., 3 : 569
Leioselasma sE'iralis Prater, 1924, J. Bombay Na t • Hist. Soc., 30 : 174
Hydrophis spiralis Smi t h, 1926, Monogr. Sea Snakes, : 48
Hydrophis spiralis Smith, 1943, Fauna Br it. India, ~. & Amph i-.-,-II I : 453
Hydrophis spiralis Daniel, 1983, Indian ReE'tiles, : 1 18
Specimens examined: I r;!, Hathab, Dist. Bhavnagar, 2.5.1988;
I ~, Porbandosr, Dist. Junagadh, 7.6.1989; I ~, Bet Dawarka,
Dist. Jamnagar, 8.8.1990.
Measurements: Total body length 52.0 - 88.0 cm. snout to
vent 47.0 - 7 .5 cm. tail 5.0 - 8.5 cm.
Characters Body long and posteriorly compressed, head
small, less distinct from neck, tail flat. Maxillary teeth 6
or 7, behind the poison fangs, supralabials 6 to 8, 3rd, 4th
and 5th or some time only two of them touching the eye, 1 pre
and I or 2 postoculars. 25 - 30 scale rows on the neck, 32 -
36 on the thickest part of the body, scales imbricate with
keel, ventrals 295 - 350, dist inct, preanal s less enlarged.
145
Body color olive black or bluish black with 40 to 60 variable
shaped black bands. Head is grey black with more or less
distinct horse-shoe shaped mark on the top of head.
Food Commonly feeds on fishes.
Distribution Persian Gulf to India and upto Malaya
Peninsula and Archipelago. Not common as other sea snakes on
the sea coast of Gujarat (Map 12).
39 HYDROPHIS CYANOCINCTUS Daudin
(Annulated sea snake)
Hydrophis cyanocinctus Daudin, 1803, Hist. Nat. ~., 7:383
Leioselasma cyanocinctus Prater,1924, 2. Bombay Soc., 30 :
Nat. 173
Hist.
Hydrophis cyanocinctus Smi t h, 1926, Monogr. Sea Snakes, : 56 --Hydrophis cyanocinctus Smi th, 1943, Fauna Brit. India,
~. & Amph i. , 111:454
Hydrophis cyanocinctus Daniel, 1983, Indian Reptiles, : 119
Specimens examined: 1 0', 1 (;1, Ghogha, Dist. Bhavnagar,
15.4.1989, 1 9, Veraval. Dist. Junagadh, 20.8.1991; 1 Q,
Mandvi, Dist. Kachchha, 27.12.1992.
Measurements Total body length 92.0 134.0 cm. snout to
vent 84.0 - 118.4 cm. tail 8.0 - 12.6 cm.
Characters Body long, posteriorly compressed, head
moderate, not distinct from neck, tail compressed. Poison
fangs before 5th or 6th maxillary teeth. Supralabials 7 or 8,
3rd to 5th, some time 3rd and 4th touching the eye, 1 pre and
146
2 or I postoculars,30 - 40 scale rows on neck, 44 on the
thickest part of the body, scales imbricate with a central
keel, ventrals 356 - 440, distinct, preanal weli enlarged.
Body colouration and markings are very variable according to
their distribution. Head olivdceous, 40 - 80 black bands on
olivaceous yellow body, bands dorsally broad and ventrally
decrease in thickness (Plate 15, c).
Food Feeds on different kind of fishes.
Distribution Persian Gulf to India and upto Japan and
Papuasia. Most common sea snake on the coast of
Gujarat (Map 12).
Genus 29 PELAMIS Daudin
Pelamis Daudin, 1803, Hist. Nat. ~., 7 361
Hydrus Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Br it. India, 397
Pelamis Smith, 1926, Monogr. Sea Snakes, I 16 --Pelamis Smi th, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & AmEhi. ,
III : 4~
Characters Body short and stout, head small with moderate
eyes, tail short and compressed. Maxillary bone not extending
forward as far as the palatine, poison fangs followed after
an interval by from 7 to II teeth. Head shields entire,
nostrils on the upper surface of the head, nasals in contact
with one another. Body scales hexagonal or squarish,
juxtaposed, 49 - 67 rows of scales at thickest part of the
body, ventrals not developed, very small, divided by a rr.edian
longitudinal fissure or indistinguishable from the adjacent
'l'-
•
PLATE 15
a. Spectacled common cobra (Naja ~ naja)
laying eggs in captivity.
b. Cobra (Naja n. naja) youngone emerged from
egg.
c. Annulated sea snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus) •
•
,r! .,
..... _---_ .... -. ... - ~-- .. -:-
PLATE 15
()
c
e&l"ot"''' ~~,,~~ 11 "·"U~~
147
scale. Only one species is described under this genus
throughout the world.
Distribution One of the most worldwide distributed sea
snake.
40 PELAMIS PLATURUS (Linnaeus)
(Yellow and black sea snake)
Anguis platurus Linnaeus, 1766, ~. Na t • , 391
Hydrus platurus Prater, 1924, 1. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. , 30 172
Pelamis platurus Smi t h, 1926, Monogr. Sea Snakes, 116 --Pelamis platurus Smi th, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. &
Amph i . , ITI 476
Pelamis platurus Daniel, 1983, Indian Reptiles, IZO
Specimens examined ~, Pirotan Island, Jamnagar, Dist.
Jamnagar, 5.5.1989; 19, Ihndvi, Dist. KHchchha, 27.12.1992.
Measurements: Total body length 52.0 - 60.0 cm. snout to
vent 45.0 - 52.5 tail 7.0 - 7.5 cm.
Characters: Body short and stout, head narrow, elongate and
distinct from neck, tail moderate and laterally compressed.
Head shields entire, nostril superior, nasals in contact with
one another, frontal large, I pre and 2 or 3 postoculars,
temporals 2, supralabials 7, 2nd in contact with the
prefrontal, 4th and 5th below the ,eye, usuHlly separated from
it by suboculars, 50 - 65 scale rows on the thickest part of
the body, the body scales hexagonal or quadrangular in shape,
148
lower most rows with small tubercles, ventrals 270 - 395,
preanals enlarged.
Five distinct forms are reported from Indian sea, on
the bases of the body colour and marking patterns. Specimens
collected from Gujarat have the head olive or black
variegated. A black dorsal stripe running from neck to tail
posteriorly, ventral side olive or yellow in colour and black
spots on tail are present.
Food Feeds on fishes.
Distribution Worldwide distribution. Found in Gulf of
Kachchha. I have also studiea a well preserved specimen in
the Fishery Museum at Okha, Dist. Jamnagar, Gujarat (Map 12).
s4°
23 0
22 0
21 0
68 0 p9° 700 710 72° ~}O 74 0 7~0 I I .~ _' ~ ~ ~ 25° GUJARAT STATE)
~ 1,=-:: - ~=
--------,.....---. -= = =..:. -= _-_ -::7·
"E --I(AO-ICHt .. 01", I
+ 'l.o';'Y-"""'" •
t SANA SKANTHA \ N
Palanpur • } . ~ { ',"\. r-...... J -/ .~ ..... , ,;' ( ,I ~ ~ I
.j \
.~ =r--'" I.OiSANo\ ! SA!lARJ.:AImiA =---:.., -. :..-:~~ I -=.::.:.::- I
- - - - '-'.. .,.--r-. ..... J\ I ---- '""'1"",.. ." - -?==:.--=-:;_ ... ,: ./ ./ .--L',..., .... ~ ------- '\ , ~."\ ,',
,. I ~ • - ~ _.-1 ? f CANOH I NAGAR --J. •. -\ .' '. , '1... ~ •• - ... -.-)'.-••• , ,p.- - l PANOv\\"AllALS \ -.') . /' A}-f,EDABAD ,.---"" !. Codhra
I • 1.--: J t ;, I: ,..-~ --- SlRENOOANA(.AR \ :. , \
' . I " , ,/ ......~. ~-'; ._ .. ..r-.
L ..... ;; 1ViEQ,\,. ; l • -. )...., I. i
r;-...) --; I i O. ' " ,:1.r-V-.. '. j • ' ___ ,_ (.\ _/.. .---.. \ -J "-"... '. -..... VAlX){).ARA
JMNACAR i Wl<.a-r..... ') -'_"""'" .. ----\) ! '., .. _)
f· .. : ,,- .. _ ........ } . (" ,.j __ , .. ____ _ :,'~( 0(-.: l ':: '\. i'-,,~..., • 1 ,,_'; l -... L-. ... -;, ..... _-;:~:. ;-,. MRElI '\
. -,../ : -": .,. .. ' .. _- \'" .,..; .... r •
• . ,.--..! ....... i
JlNACADI, , .
.J L c. .. _\ -"' ....
~ . .-..)
\ (,
'", 1
MAP 12
~ B,,"RUCH
69° 70 0 710 72 0 73 0 74 0
.' ! ~.
~
r'
I
, ,
68 0
Distribution Enhydrina schistosa, Hydrophis spiralis, H. cyanocinctus Pelamis platurus.
24 0
23 0
22 0
21 0
20 0
Farni I Y X VIPERIDAE
Viperini Oppe 1, 1 8 1 1 , Ord. Gatt. Fam. ~. Munich, 47
Viperidae Bonaparte, 1840, Mem. Acad. Torin., 2 ( 2 ) : 393
Viperidae Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Br it. India, 417
Viperidae Sm it h, 1943, Fauna Br it. India, ~. & AmEh i. , III 477
Viperidae Underwood, 1967, Cont. Classi. Snakes, 103
Characters The head is deep and dist inct ly broader than
the neck. Eyes with vertical pupils, retina duplex, the tail
of moderate length. The anterior skull elements are flexibly
movable on the braincase. The premaxilla and maxilla are
separate, as are the prefrontal and nasal. The coronoid bone
is absent from mandible, very short maxilla bears a single
large erectile tubular fang to carry venom. Hemipenis sulcus
spermaticus forked. Hypapophyses developed throughout the
vertebral column. On the head, a sensitive pit between the
eye and the nostril is present in Crotalinae subfamily. The
family is divided into three subfamilies viz., I.
Atractaspidinae 2. Viperinae and 3. Crotalinae.
Distribution Worldwide distribution, except in the
Papuasian, Australasian and Polynesian regions.
!.
KEY TO THE SUBFAMILIES OF FAMILY
Maxillary bone not hollowed out, no pit in the side of the face •••
Maxillary bone hollowed out above and forming with the prefrontal a deep pit between the eye and the nostril ••
A VIPERI~
2
A CROTALINr
2. No choanal or maxillary process of palatine, fang large in size, head covered with small sheilds.
Choanal or maxillary process of palatine present, fang reduced in size, head covered with large shields .•
Subfamily VIPERINAE
1 50
. •• VIPERINAE
. .. ATRACTASPIDINAE
Viperini Oppel, 1811, Ord. Gatt. Fam. ~. Munich, 47
Characters Large curved tubular fangs on maxilla,
trabecular ridges on frontals, no choana 1 or maxillary
process of palatine. Posterior hypophyses present, levator
anguli oris muscle present, tracheal lung, duplex retina with
small single rods (type D) and cones (type C). Viperinae is
known as an Old World vipers.
Distribution South-East Asia, Indo-Chinese subregion and
Africa.
Vipera Laurenti,
Daboia Gray,
Vipera Boulenger,
Vipera Smith,
Genus 30 VIPERA Laurenti
1768, ~. ~., 9S
1842, Zool. Misc., 69
1890, Fauna Bri t . India, 419
1943, Fauna Bri t. India., ~. & Amphi., III :482
Characters Body stout, head triangular and distinct from
neck, covered with small scales or small frontals and the
parietal shields still persisting. Eyes large with vertical
pupil, nostril lateral, in a large nasal shield, a
1 5 1
nasorostral shield between the nasal and the rostral or
partly united with the nasal. Body scales in 19-33 straight
rows, strongly keeled, ventrals rounded. Tail short. Two
species are known from India.
Distribution: Europe, Indo-Australian Archipelago, North and
Tropical Africa and Asia.
41 VIPERA RUSSELLI (Shaw)
(Russell's viper)
Coluber russelli Shaw, 1796 , Nat. Misc., 8 : 291
Vipera elegans Daudin, 1803, Hist. Na t • ~ .. 4 124
Daboia pulchel1a Gray, 1842. Zoo 1. Misc., : 69
Vipera russelli Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, : 420
Vipera russell i Prater, 1924, J. Bomba!,: Na t • His t • Soc. , 30 : 175
Vipera russell i Wall. 1928. Pois. Snakes India. 5 ')
Vipera russell i Sm it h, 1943. Fauna Brit. India. ~. & Amphi~II 482
Vipera russe1li Deoras, 1965, Sankes of I nd i a : 127
Vipera russelli Whi taker. 1978. Cortmon Indian Snakes, 65
Vipera russelli Daniel. 1 983, Indian Reptiles. 121
Spec imens examined : 1 ~. Sagai. Dist. Bharuch. 13.2.1989; 1
~, Duldha, Dist. Dangs, 2.11.1989; 1 ~. Surat, Dist. Surat.
25.2.1990, ColI. K. S. Bhatt; 1 ~. 1 6'. Vadodara. Dist.
Vadodara, 2.10.1990; 1 Q, 1 if, Indroda, Dist. Gandhina,gar.
10.10.1990; 1 Q. 1 d'. Bharuch. Dist. Bharuch. 15.10.1990.
ColI. R. Tiruvagadam.
152
Measurements: Total body length 63.5-134.0 cm, snout to vent
57.0-112.0 cm, tail 6.5-22.0 cm.
Characters Body massive, cylindrical, head flat and
triangular with short obtuse snout, head distinct from neck,
tail short and tapering. Head covered with small scales
without shields; a large poison fang present on the front
part of maxilla; nostrils very large. Supralabials 10-12,
4th or 5th below the eye and largest, 10 to 15 scales round
the eye, temporals broken, midbody scales 27 to 30, strongly
keeled except outer row which are smooth, ventrals 110-182,
caudals 42-57, divided, anal I. Hemipenis extending upto the
10th caudal plate, forked at the last 2nd or 3rd plate,
calyculate in distal half, spinose in the proximal, the
largest spines being nearest to and extending beyond the
fork. Body colour brown with three rows of large oval spots,
connected with each other forming long chains, one middorsal
and two laterals. Spots are brown solid or black and buff in
the centre and on the margine. Head with distinct large
symmetrical dark brown markings and two light streaks, whir!l
unite at the tip of snout and diverge behind to reach the
angle of the jaw, a dark stripe from eye to lip, lips white
or light yellowish. Belly yellowish with dark brown spots on
the margine of the anterior ventrals. (Plate 16, a).
Habits and Habitat : Nocturnal, active at night in search of
food. Sluggish snake but when irritated, it runs very fast in
short spurts, hisses loudly and attacks to bite. During
153
winter basking in the open grounds. Usually a freshly caught
snake is not accepting any food for a longer time.
Food : Rodents are its main diet but in addition, they take
lizards, small birds and frogs. Cannabalism is found among
the youngones.
Breeding Viviparous species. I have collected gravid
females in the months from February to August.
Distribution: Pakistan, Burma, Thailand, Indo-China,
Formosa, Indo-Australian Archipelago, Sri Lanka and India.
Common in Gujarat State, except Kachchha and Saurashtra
region minus Gir forest and Girnar mountain (Map 13).
Echis Merrem,
Texicoa Gray,
Genus 31 ECHIS Merrem
1820, Tent. ~. Amphi., 149
1849, Cat. ~. Brit. Mus., : 29
Echis Boulenger, 1890, Fauna Brit. India, 421
Echis Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit.lndia,~.& Amphi.,III:487
Characters Head large and very ~istinct from neck, covered
with small imbricate scales, eyes moderate with vertical
pupil, tail short, nostrils small upwards. Body scales in
27-37 raws, strongly keeled, the dorsal row is in a straight
longitudinal series, the laterals smaller, oblique, pointing
downwards with serrated keels, outer most 2 rows feb1y keeled
or smooth, ventrals rounded, subcaudals united. Two species
are recognised out of which one is found in India.
I 54
Distribution: Africa, North of the Equator, South-West Asia,
Sri Lanka and India.
42 ECHIS CARINATUS (Schneider)
(Saw-Scaled viper)
Pseudoboa carinata Schneider,l801, Hist. Amphi., 2: 285
Boa horatta Shaw,
Scytale bizonatus Daudin,
Echis carinata Murray,
Echis carinata Boulenger
Echis carinatus Boulenger,
1802, Gen. Zool., III : 359
1802, Hist. Nat. ~., 5 : 339
1884, Zool. Sind, : 388
1890, Fauna Brit. India, : 422
1896, Cat.~. Brit.Mus., III:505
Echis carinatus var. nigrocineta Ingoldby,1923, {.Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 29 : 130
Echis carinatus Wall, 1925, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 30 247
Echis carinatus Wall, 1928, Pois. Sn. India, : 52
Echis co.rinatus Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & Amph i-:-;I I I : 487
Echis carinatus Deoras, 19'5, Snakes of India, : 129
Echis carinatt.:s Whitaker, 1978, Common India Snakes, 69
Echis carinatus Daniel, 1983, Indian Reptiles, : 124
Specimens examined 1 'i!. Jadeshvar, Dist. Bharuch,
13.2.1989, ColI. R. Tiruvagadam; ~, Sida4Sar, Dist.
Bhavnagar, 15.5.1989, ColI. V. B. Mer; 1 ~, Pirotan Island,
Dist. Jamnagar, 18.6.1989; 10', Hingolgadh, Dist. Rajkot,
22.7.1989, ColI. A. B. Sharma; I ~, Duladha, Di st. Da ng s \
2 . 1 1 • I 989 , Coli. S • S. Patel; ~, I if, Halol, Dis t.
Panchamahals, 24.2.1990. ColI. D. A. Pa tel ; I Q, Koyali,
Dist. Vadodara, 2.11.1990; I if. Ambaji, Dist. Banaskantha,
155
14.1.1991, CoIl. P. M. Thakkar; ~, Mithanagar, Dist.
Surendranagar, 12.1.1992; ~, Bhuj, Dist. Kachchha,
29.12.1992.
Measurements: Total body length 20.5-58.0 cm, snout to vent
18.0-53.5 cm, tail 2.5-5.0 cm.
Characters Body cylindrical, short and stout, head
"....
triangu lar, flat with short snout, head distinct from neck, '--'
eyes large with vertical pupil, tail short and tapering.
Head scales small imbricate, strongly keeled, supralabials 9
to 12,12 to 16 small scales round the eye; body scales in 20
to 23 : 23 to 30 21 to 24 rows, outer most two rows larger
than the others, strongly keeled; ventrals 152-213, caudals
27-32, undivided, anals 1 or 2. Hemipenis extending upto 7th
caudal plate, deeply forked and spinose th~~ughout. Body
colour pale brown, buff with dark brown or blackish markings
in the form of dark-edged spots in a vertebral series
connected on each side with a light coloured inverted 'U' or
'V' shaped mar, enclosing a dark area; there are undulating
light lines along the sides, connected with one another. A
cruciform or + shaped light grey mark on top of the head.
Belly whitish, uniform or spotted with dark brown. The
general pattern as described above is not constant but varies
considerably (Plate 16, b).
Habitas and Habitat Prefer dry, sandy, rocky terrain and
plains. Active at night and rests during the day time under
rocks, bushes or in burrows. During winter basking in open.
1 56
It always rests in "a tight undulating coil and when moves its
undulating movement forms the figure of 8. Many people are
becoming the victims of this species during harvests of
crops.
Food : It feeds on different kinds of insects in the wild.
In captivity I have fed on small mice, garden lizards and
geckos.
Distribution Africa - North of equator, West Asia, Sri
Lanka, Pakistan and India.
Gujarat State (Map. 13).
Common in all the parts of
Subfamily CROTALINAE
Crotalinae Oppel, 1811, Ord. Gatt. Fam.~. Munich, 47
Characters Curved tubular fangE on maxilla, no choana I or
maxillary process of palatine, posterior hypapophyses
present, a thermoreptor organ - pi t is present inbetween the
eye and nostril, duplex retina.
Distribution Eastern Europe, Asia, Indo-Australian
Archipelago, America.
Genus 32 TRIMERESURUS Lacepede
Trimeresurus Lacepede, 1804, Ann. Mus. Paris, 4 : 209
Parias Gray,
Peltopelor Gunther,
1849, Ca t. ~. Br it. Mu s . ,
1864, ~. Brit. India,
1 1
390
Trimeresurus Boulenger,1890, Fauna Brit. India, 425
157
Lachesis Boulenger 1896, Cat. Sn. Brit. Mus., 3 : 529
Trimeresurus Smith, 1943, Fauna Brit. India, ~. & Amph i . ,U1 : 502
Characters Body cyl indrical, head large, triangular and
distinct from neck, eyes with vertical pupil; tail moderate
or short; nostril small in the nasal, head covered with
scales or small shields, a deep pit in the side of the face
inbetween the preocular and loreal. Body scales in 17-31
rows, keeled, ventrals rounded and angulated, subcaudals
paired or rarely united. 14 species are reported from India.
Distribution Indo-China, China, Japan, Malaya, Indo-
Australian Archipelago, Philippine Islands, Celebes and
India.
43 TRIMERESURUS GRAMINEUS (Shaw)
(Bamboo pit viper)
Coluber gramineus Shaw, 1802, Gen. Zool., 3 : 420
Vipera viridis Daudin, 1803, Hist. Nat. ~.,6 :112
Lachesis gramineus Wall, 1905, .:!.. Bombay Nat. His t. Soc., 16 : 536
Trimeresurus gramineus Smith, 1937,.:!.. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 39: 730
Trimeresurus gramineus Deoras, 1965, Snakes of India, : 132
Trimeresurus gramineus Whitaker,I978, Common : 70
Indian Snakes,
Trimeresurus grarnineus Daniel, 1983, Indian Reptiles, 126
Specimens examined I ~, Saputara, Dist. Dangs, 2.1.1989;
10', Dharmpur, Dist. Valsad, 18.6.1989, CoIl. C. B. Jahla.
158
Measurements: Total body length 43.0-47.5 cm, snout to vent
35.5-38.0 cm, tail 7.5-9.5 em.
Characters Body stout, head triangular, distinct from thin
neck, large eyes with vertical pupil, a loreal pit present
inbetween the nasal and eye, tail short, tapering and
prehensile. Head covered with small scales, supralabials 10-
12, eyes separate from supralabials by two rows of elongate
subocular, temporals small; body scales in 21:21:15 rows,
smooth and vertebral row feebly keeled, ventrals 149-168,
caudals 55-65, divided. Hemipenis extending upto 12th caudal
plate, forked opposite to the 3rd caudal plate, sulcus
bordered on either side by a calyculate area, the rest of the
organ being spinose. Body colour grass-green with small
black spots on the head to posterior region, belly yellowish
(Plate 16, c).
Habits and Habitat: Arboreal and nocturnal species. Lives in
green vines, bushes and bamboo. During the day time resting
under covered vegetation or hollow tree branches, well
camouflaged with surroundings.
Food Feeds on frogs, lizards and rodents.
Distribution: Peninsula of India, Dangs and Val sad Districts
of Gujarat State (Map 13).
"
PLATE 16
a. Russells viper (Vipera russelli) in process
of laying youngones.
b. Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus) with its
youngones.
c. Bamboo pit viper (Trimeresurus gramineus)
.. '
r
a '.
r ~.
\ ~. -~ .- .~- ---
b
PLATE16
~4°
23°
22°
21°
20°
68° ° o ° 72° o ° GUJARATsrATEi
't-
680
~~ ~~,'t> ~==--~=::_ _:;" -;._~&~-:;_-_-~_--:'-=-== BANASI(ANT\iA -~~-:-_.~~~{:~~=- ___ ~~~ =:~ ____ ~=-~~jj.~f:===:=£::;~===j ~.npur • 6 )
N
- . Y{"~~~~~.:-~~-:- rJ '-'~r-"f -=-=-r==-==-=:~-::· -== -~ ?'./ !' co:::::.- _ - -:. ___ :_- - - =-_--r- /,QiSAW. ~. L ~ ~ __ .: _ -:.. -::l. _! SAIlARKANTHA -- -=-===k- .
C>. V. russe I I
/:;. E. carinatus
AT. gram i n e us
69° Distribution
KAQ-iCttl
"Allhuj
JA,\NAGAR
_ _ _ _ " rl'- I __ ___ _ ... """, J ,_..r\ I
(./ ,...-' . J.' .-..,.. .... ""- ! _'" I .I.-'~ -~
,_ A (! CA.~OH I NA"C-..AA t.., :":
\
~ .' J;; -,~ ,-to
o_ "'--_ .. , __ 7' .. , p'--'"' \-' ::
I /. ( ~ ;, • :. AH~£DABAD ~-.... )
~ S~CAA 7 , ... (-- l ,/ \ \. ,,1,
• r •
PA.o",oiA,\'AltAL S
• Codhra
[' L., •.•. ..1 ;1 \ ! .... } )-'.;_ t
i KH£D..\ .... " ~
( .' _.'r./V'- ~ ( ["; r-..r· .... . /" . . I"
': t:. \ ,w \. . i AC I : o..TV .... ~.. • J 0.. A - • ..-" .......
__ 0' : ~"O'T ......... • (".l". ..... \,.: ! ___ " \ VADOOARA
__ , _. __ <F", r/-f---·-·'.,.,) '\.. \ ... ~) ~ • ..... \ :"I. r-1 .• -----
: .. .., r"-"'_~.J }ARELI ..... -J -
/.-. , ... J"('
..
70 0
:..... \. . 'j • /
• '- ~-.. j • i
Jl.W.GAOH c!.. t. __ _ -\ ),
.......... , \ ~ \ .., " ~
MAP 13
710
• 8HARUCH <l.~ t:..
72° 73° Vipera russell i. Echis carinatus and Trimeresurus gramineus.
74°
o 25°
24 0
/
( -.
--/,/
23°
22° --I
, ,
21 0
20 0
