Common Cat Snake | Boiga trigonata

Labels: Indian Gamma Snake, Common Cat Snake
Scientific name: Boiga trigonata
Common name: Common Cat Snake

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Boiga
Species:	B. trigonata

Type: HARMLESS

Distinguishing Features: Small to medium-sized; very slender; scales smooth; neck is thin; eyes protruding with flat head and distinct pattern.

Average Length: 65 cm; At Birth: 25 cm; Maximum: 1.25 m (female).

Description: Common Cat Snakes are thin and have a long body with a tail that tapers to a point. Their colour is light-brown or tan with a pattern of zigzag markings. A prominent ‘Y’ mark can be seen on their head. They usually have smooth scales, which are not glossy. Their underside is whitish or tan, which occasionally shows the presence of tiny spots. They are often mistaken for Saw-scaled Vipers. There are 11 species of Cat Snakes in India.

Distribution: They are found throughout India, but mostly on plains. The Himalayan Cat Snake is found up to 3000 m above sea level.

Habitat: In Tamil they are called ‘palm leaf snakes’, as it is found coiled up in the leaves of the Palmyra during the day time. They also like to stay in a cool place, among bushes, in thatched roofs or under the bark of trees.

Habits: Cat Snakes have cat-like protruding eyes and long feathery tongue indicate which indicates that they are nocturnal. They are rear-fanged and have mild venom for paralyzing their prey. Usually they are inoffensive and when disturbed will coil firmly, rearing back and vibrating the tail.

Young: Approximately 7 eggs are laid at a time.

Food: They mainly feed on geckos and other lizards, but also eat mice and small birds.

Status: In many areas South India it can be referred to as a Common Snake, but like other inconspicuous or nocturnal snakes they are hardly ever seen.

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Royal Snake | Spalerosophis diadema

Labels: Royal Snake, Rajat Bansi

Scientific name: Spalerosophis diadema

Common name: Royal Snake

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Spalerosophis
Species: S. diadema

Type: HARMLESS

Distinguishing Features: Medium to large-sized; keeled scales; young with uniform spots whereas adults with black heads and very irregular black markings.

Average Length: 1.5 m; At Birth: Approximately 25 cm; Maximum: 2 m.

Description: Generally the colour of Royal Snakes varies from yellowish-brown or orange, with irregular black markings down the back, till their jet-black head and neck. Their underside is glossy and rosy-pink. Their dorsal scales are strongly keeled and the body has a prominent sparkling lustre. Royal Snake is the only Indian snake known, whose pattern changes continually as it grows. The young ones are evenly blotched patterns and no black markings.

Distribution: They are restricted to the dry areas of Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh up to 2000 m above sea level.

Habitat: They generally stay in rat holes, rocky areas and crevices. Being an excellent and fast climber, they are also fond in trees and bushes in arid and semi-arid areas.

Habits: They remain active mainly during the day time. Royal Snakes are quite similar to Trinket Snakes but grow larger and are faster in activity and response. They bite infrequently, but coil and make a hissing sound when disturbed.

Young: It is an egg-laying species but their precise number and laying-time is not known.

Food: They primarily eat rodents, but feed on small birds and lizards as well.

Status: Royal Snakes are widespread throughout their range and are significant rodent predators. They wrongly considered as venomous and thus frequently killed. People mistakenly call them “Nag” (Cobra), despite of the obvious difference.

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Bronze-back Tree Snake | Dendrelaphis tristis

Labels: Bronze-back Tree Snake, Lal-Dhaman
Binomial name: Dendrelaphis tristis
Common name: Bronze-back Tree Snake

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Dendrelaphis
Species:	D. tristis

Type: HARMLESS

Distinguishing Features: Medium-sized; quite slender; smooth scales; wide brown or bronze stripes from head to tail.

Average Length: 1 m; At Birth: 15 cm; Maximum: 1.5 m.

Description: Bronze-back Tree Snakes are pretty long and slender with flat heads and large eyes. Their sides are often dark brown or black in colour with a wide light bronze stripe down the centre of the back. The young ones often resemble the adults to a great extent, but have a faint banded pattern which disappears in the first year. Their underside is whitish, grey to light brown. There are in all 8 species of Bronze-backs in India, which are mostly found in the hills.

Distribution: They are found throughout India, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, up to 2000 m above sea level.

Habitat: Mainly this species is arboreal and occupy low bushes, thorn tree such as Acacia, Toddy palms and Palmyra.

Habits: They are diurnal and very active even during the hottest part of a summer day. Bronze-backs are very alert snakes and engage their neck and forebody in a ‘strange wavering dance’ while moving about or when disturbed. When manhandled, they strike and bite with quick jabs, but calms down after proper handling. Unlike other snakes these snakes don’t fear falling and regularly jump among branches and to the ground from heights of 10-20 m. They rarely seem to hide and are mostly found in the open.

Young: The female lays about 6 long thin eggs in a tree hole or old bird nest.

Food: They mainly feed on frogs and lizards. Also, it is not rare for this snake to hunt tree frogs and geckos in thatched roofs.

Status: Bronze-back Tree Snakes are very commonly found.

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Banded Racer | Argyrogena fasciolatus

Labels: Banded Racer

Binomial name: Argyrogena fasciolatus

Common name: Banded Racer

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Argyrogena
Species:	A. fasciolatus

Type: HARMLESS

Distinguishing Features: Small to medium-sized; slender; smooth scales; young ones are brightly banded while the adults uniform and without pattern.

Average Length: 75 cm; At Birth: 15 cm; Maximum: 1.4 m.

Description: They are light or dark brown in colour. The young ones have white cross bands at regular spaces. They also have vibrant white head markings. Their head is a bit wider than the neck and nose is slightly pointed. They have smooth scales, but not shining and the underside is yellowish or white.

Distribution: This species is found in plains throughout most parts of India.

Habitat: Banded Racers are very alert and fast snakes and have a preference for high grass or bushes. Generally they occupy rodent burrows, rock piles and heavy brush.

Habits: They are active and quick during the day. When captured, they may bite and display a thin ‘hood’ by flattening its ribs in the neck region. But after some time, it calms down.

Young: The female lays about 2 to 6 eggs some-time around October.

Food: The young eat frogs and insects, while adults feed on mice and Metad Rats (Ratus maltada). They kill their prey by constricting or pressing with the body.

Status: The population of Banded Racers is getting reduced because of severe over-grazing and clearing of vegetation.

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Dog-faced Water-Snake | Cerberus rynchops

Labels: New Guinea Bockadam, Dog-faced water-snake
Binomial name: Cerberus rynchops
Common name: Dog-faced Water-Snake

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Cerberus
Species:	C. rynchops

Type: HARMLESS

Distinguishing Features: Medium sized; thick-bodied; scales keeled and dull; head wider than neck; eyes small; back pattern unclear and checkered belly is distinct.

Average Length: 60 cm; At Birth: 15 cm; Maximum: 1.25 m (female).

Description: This Water-Snake is heavy-bodied, with their eyes and nostrils set high on the head. Their overall colour is slate-grey, but sometimes with indistinct uneven black cross bars. Their abdomen has distinctive black and white checks. Their scales are dull and heavily keeled. There are in all 6 other species of rear-fanged swamp snakes in India.

Distribution: They are found in near Coastal India including the Andaman and Nicobars.

Habitat: Dog faced water-snakes hang about in muddy and rocky areas in estuaries such as mangrove swamps, salt pans and creeks. Though they prefer brackish water, this water-snake is also found several miles from the coast in fish traps set in rice fields.

Habits: They seem to be nocturnal but mating and feeding activity is also found during the day. They just peep out exposing only their heads from the holes where they live. They have a long sensitive tongue which is extended out as they swim along the bottom. This species of water-snakes are excellent swimmer, when scared they snap to a leaping and escape to the land.

Young: Around 6 to 30 living young are born between February and May.

Food: Being water-snake, they mainly feed on several species of fishes, which includes spiny ones like Tilapia and cat fish. They also eat frogs.

Status: Though this species is unexploited, the loss of coastal habitat and pollution of brackish water badly depletes their number. Once considered a rare snake, actually it is one of the most plentiful in India.

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Vine Snake | Ahaetulla nasutus

Labels: Vine Snake, Whip Snake, Hara Samp

Binomial name: Ahaetulla nasutus
Common name: Vine Snake

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Ahaetulla
Species:	A. nasutus

Type: HARMLESS

Distinguishing Features: Medium or large-sized, slender; smooth, dull scales; very pointed head and bright green colouration.

Average Length: 1 m; At Birth: 20 cm; Maximum: 2 m (female).

Description: Vine Snakes are long and thin with pointed heads. Their body is uniformly green in colour with a thin white or yellow line separating the back scales from the belly scales. Their underside is usually light green or yellow. In excitement, their inflated neck and body reveal the black and white inter-scale colour, giving it a banded appearance. Their scales are smooth but not glossy. They have a horizontal elliptical eye, which is a unique feature among those of Indian Snakes. Though common, Vine Snakes can be rarely seen because of their excellent camouflage.

Distribution: This snake is found throughout India, except in the Northwest and much of the Gangetic basin, up to 2,500 m above sea level.

Habitat: They can be seen in and around low bushes to trees, on the plains to large rain forest trees in the hills.

Habits: They normally depend on their shape and colour to getaway exposure. Also, they can move at a fairly good speed. They open the mouth very wide and swell the body warningly, when aggravated. They are rear-fanged and usually hold its prey until the slightly toxic venom has killed it. At the time of breeding, these snakes are group together in clusters and can be even seen in branches.

Young: Nearly 8 young ones are given birth to around August to November. The young ones have slightly turned-up noses and are petite replicas of their parents.

Food: Their diet mainly includes frogs, lizards, small birds and mice. On rare occasions, Vine Snakes even feed on other snakes like the Shieldtail Snake.

Status: Vine Snakes are commonly found. It is greatly feared and almost always killed when seen. In many areas, it is unwisely believed that Vine Snakes will nip at a person’s eyes and peck them out.

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Flying Snake | Chrysopelea ornata

Labels: Golden Tree Snake, Ornate Flying Snake, Golden Flying Snake, Gliding Snake

Binomial name: Chrysopelea ornata
Common name: Flying Snake

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Chrysopelea
Species:	C. ornata

Type: HARMLESS

Distinguishing Features: Small or medium-sized, slender; smooth scales; very bright pattern of black, yellow and red.

Average Length: 1 m; At Birth: 20 cm; Maximum: 1.75 m.

Description: Flying Snakes are thin, fast and colourful and personify vibrant energy. They have smooth and somewhat glossy scales. Their back is black in colour with yellow or white cross bands and speckles and red rosettes. Their undersides are greenish and have lateral folds on the belly scales used for climbing purpose. Their pattern and colouration of head and trunk vary geographically.

Distribution: They are common in forested hills of the Southwest, forests of Northeast India, and north of Bihar and Orissa, up to 2,000 m above sea level. The other species namely the Paradise Flying Snake (C. paradisi) is found on Narcondam in the Andamans.

Habitat: They usually have a preference for large trees and thick forests. However, apart from India they are seen around houses and gardens.

Habits: This snake remains active by day. Flying Snakes escape predation by jumping, even from very high branches, just like Bronze-backs. Analysis done on the flight of this snake shows that, they extend their ribs and pull in the underside. This flattening allows the ‘Flying Snake’ to be a bit of a glider, keeping it from falling straight down. This leaping activity from branch to branch between trees is astonishing to watch.

Young: Females lay 6 to 12 eggs between February and March.

Food: Their habits are similar to the Bronze-backs and also feed on frogs, lizards (including geckos), small birds and sometimes their eggs. They generally swallow the prey alive, although it has rear ‘fangs’ and a slightly noxious saliva possibly effective in immobilizing their prey.

Status: Flying Snakes seem to be rare in the Western Ghats (Tamil Nadu). Unfortunately, this species is very popular with snake fanciers in Europe and America, which has eventually resulted in it being exported in large numbers in the past. Apparently the more colourful a snake is, the deadlier it is, hence only the bravest can handle a colourful one.

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