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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