Hook-Nosed Sea Snake | Enhydrina schistosa

Labels: Beaked sea-snake, Hook-nosed sea snake, Common sea snake, Valakadyn sea snake, Dariya samp, Samudhra samp

Binomial name: Enhydrina schistosa
Common name: Hook-Nosed Sea Snake

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Hydrophiidae
Genus:	Enhydrina
Species:	E. schistosa

Type: VENOMOUS

Distinguishing Features: Medium sized; rough, dull scales; body flattened, tail flat and paddle-shaped.

Average Length: 60 cm; At Birth: 15 cm; Maximum: 1.5 m.

Description: This Sea Snake is a quite short, stout snake with square nose and tip of the upper jaw protruding in a hook over the lower one, hence the name. Their overall colour is grey and there are dark round blotches on the back. Their scales are rather coarse and granular, unlike most of the snakes. The underside and bottom half of their body is white. Their tail is flat and paddle-like in appearance.

Distribution: Hook-Nosed Sea Snakes are found in the coast and coastal islands of India and are the commonest of the over 20 kinds of sea snakes found in Indian coastal waters.

Habitat: They are normally found in the deep sea but prefer coastal regions. Many a times they are accidentally captured in the inshore fishing nets.

Habits: In general not much is known about the sea snakes. Mostly, they seem to be active both during day and night. They rarely seem to rest, while continuously swimming around when awake. They can stay under-water for a maximum period of 5 hours and can dive to about 100 m. Like most of the sea snakes, this species rarely bite and there are hardly any incidences of death from their bites. Sea snakes are equipped with glands to discard excess salt from their body.

Young: All sea snakes bear 2-5 living young, except the Amphibious Sea Snake.

Food: Being sea snakes, their main item in food includes fish. Their highly toxic venom quickly paralyses the fast and slippery prey.

Status: Hook-Nosed Sea Snakes are common and not much exploited. In few countries Amphibious Sea Snake are slaughtered for their meat and some other species are hunted for their skins.

Venom: Their venom is rated four to eight times toxic as Cobra venom. Other sea snake venoms are almost equally lethal. Sea snakes do not have a highly proficient venom injection apparatus as the Vipers and Cobras do. Anti-venom for its bite is not available here, but is made in Japan and Australia.

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Slender Coral Snake | Calliophis melanurus

Labels: Indian Coral Snake, Coral Snake, Slender Coral Snake

Binomial name: Calliophis melanurus
Common name: Slender Coral Snake

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Calliophis
Species:	C. melanurus

Type: VENOMOUS

Distinguishing Features: Small, slender; smooth, shiny scales; blunt, black head; tail black, scarlet and blue.

Average Length: 25-35 cm; Diameter: 5 mm.

Description: Slender Coral Snakes are light brown and to some extent speckled. Their head and neck are black with two prominent yellow spots on top of the head. A shabby black ring is seen at their tail-base and tail-tip. The underside is consistent pinkish-red, bright scarlet at the vent and the underside of tail is bluish. Their heads are blunt and have the same width as the neck. Scales are smooth and faintly glossy. This Slender Coral Snake is one of the 5 Indian Coral Snakes, the other 4 being the hill forest species present in the Western Ghats and Eastern Himalayas.

Distribution: This species is distributed in most parts of India on the plains, except Central and North-western India.

Habitat: Mostly Slender Coral Snakes are seen in the coastal scrub jungles, under leaves, brick and rubble piles, and sandy patches.

Habits: They are mainly nocturnal snakes, but on rare occasions become active in the early morning hours in the cooler months. They are fine burrowers in sandy soil and can lay motion-less with just their head noticeable. In excitement, they will curl their tails up and wave it, exhibiting their startling underside colours, thus mocking attention from the head.

Young: Not much knowledge is gathered about the reproduction of this snake, except that all Indian Coral Snakes are egg-layers. Few North Indian species have been found laying 6-14 eggs.

Food: They seem to feed on worm snakes.

Status: This species is considered a rare one, as described in the literature. Also, Coral Snakes are forest species and hence their number is reducing due to the declining forest areas in our country.

Venom: Evidently, nothing is known about the venom of these little relatives of Cobra.

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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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Rat Snake | Ptyas mucosus

Labels: Oriental Rat-snake, Dhaman

Binomial name: Ptyas mucosus
Common name: Rat Snake

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Ptyas
Species:	P. mucosus

Type: HARMLESS

Distinguishing Features: Large sized, sleek; shiny scales; dorsal row keeled; thin neck and large eyes.

Average Length: 2 m; At Birth: 32 cm; Maximum: 3.5 m (male).

Description: Rat Snakes are common and widely distributed. They usually show a lot of variation in colour, from light-yellow to jet-black and many shades of green, olive or brown in between. Their body is evenly coloured, but the skin bears inter-scale markings which show up when they puffs itself in defence. Their underside usually bears cross bars, which is quite prominent in specimens from Northern India. When observed concisely, Rat Snakes resemble Cobras, but they are in fact longer and thinner with pointed rather than round heads and striking eyes.

Distribution: They are found throughout India, including the Andaman and Nicobars and 4,000 m above sea level.

Habitat: Termite mounds and rat holes are the favourite places for Rat Snakes. Generally they are versatile snakes and can adapt themselves to almost every environment. Their most wanted hunting grounds include high grass, rice fields and storage places.

Habits: Being phenomenal rat eaters, Rat Snakes naturally occur more where rats dwell. And since rats are abundant where humans are, these snakes are plentifully found. They are diurnal and like other animals which live close to humans, tend to learn our activity cycles and avoid contact in its foray. They hiss, puff its throat and strike with force when threatened. They are harmless snakes, but their bite can be painful at times.

Young: The female lays 8 to 16 eggs mainly between the months of March and July. It takes about 60 days to hatch the eggs.

Food: They are mainly rodent eaters, but also feed on frogs, lizards, birds and even small snakes. Young ones are primarily frog eaters, but start hunting mice and rats during their first year of life. They usually swallow the prey live or kill them by mechanically applying pressure of the jaws and body.

Status: Rat Snakes along with Cobras have always been the source of a large and uncontrolled skin industry. In some regions their entire lot has been wiped out, resulting in an explosive increase in the rodent population. Many tribal groups survive on this industry; but seasonal controls to allow breeding and studies on the level of cropping a persistent yield without the threat of extinction may afford them a livelihood without rigorous effect on agriculture.

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Banded Krait | Bungarus fasciatus

Labels: Banded Krait, Raaj Saamp, Gaoman

Binomial name: Bungarus fasciatus
Common name: Banded Krait

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Bungarus
Species:	B. fasciatus

Type: VENOMOUS

Distinguishing Features: Medium to large sized; smooth, shiny scales; wide vibrant yellow and black bands on the back.

Average Length: 1.5 m; At Birth: 25-30 cm; Maximum: 2.25 m.

Description: This snake is large, conspicuous yellow and black banded with prominent backbone, blunt tail and a rounded head, which is slightly distinct from the body. These bands are quite faded on their underside.

Distribution: Banded Kraits are reported in Bengal, Assam, Orissa, Bihar, and in some parts of Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. They are found up to 1,500 m above sea level.

Habitat: They find shelter in termite mounds and rodents holes close to water. They often live near villages because of their supply of rodents and water. Generally open plains are preferred by them.

Habits: Like other Kraits, this snake also ventures out only at night. This snake species are coy and soft tempered. Snake dealers handle them with little caution, but at the same time mention that they are lively at night. Not much is known about this beautiful snake, just like the other nocturnal Indian snakes.

Young: Generally females lay up to 12 eggs during the month of April. It takes around 60 days to hatch the eggs.

Food: The feeding habits of Banded Kraits are similar to that of Common Kraits. In fact, they also eat Common Kraits. Water-snakes and young rats are also eaten by them, in confinement. Banded Kraits kill their prey by suffocating them by means of their jaws. They also envenomate the prey and within 10-20 minutes it becomes moribund.

Status: Although being fairly common in India, this snake is infrequently seen.

Venom: Banded Kraits produce highly toxic venom, but they hardly bite and no deaths have been reported in India from its bite. So far no anti-venom has been produced against its venom in India.

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