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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Indian Monocled Cobra | Naja kaouthia

Labels: Monocled Cobra, Bengal Cobra, Nag Samp
Binomial name: Naja kaouthia
Common name: Indian Monocled Cobra

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Naja
Species:	N. kaouthia

Type: VENOMOUS

Distinguishing Features: Medium sized; smooth, shiny scales; wide head and neck; distinctive hood marking different from that of the Spectacled Cobra.

Average Length: 1 m; At Birth: 20 cm; Maximum: 1.5 m (male).

Description: Monocled Cobra’s skin is shinier, their hood rounder and smaller and the head smaller than that of the Spectacled Cobra. Their colour shows a lot of variation, ranging from yellowish to greenish brown, to black, with ragged bands. Their hood bears a striking white monocle. The underside is yellowish white. This snake superficially resembles the Spectacled Cobra, but there are several minor differences.

Distribution: They are commonly found in North-East India, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and the Andamans. Also, they are found throughout Bengal and Assam.

Habitat: They mainly dwell in much wetter areas than the Spectacled Cobra.

Habits: This Cobra, also known as Bengal Cobra, is mainly nocturnal. When bothered they spread their hood and hiss at the intruder, but bite only when it’s inevitable. While most of them are calm and unexcitable, there have been cases when they are found to be energetic and quick.

Young: Their eggs and clutch sizes are perhaps smaller than that of the Spectacled Cobra. The eggs are laid between January and March.

Food: This snake prefers munching on cold blooded preys like fishes and small snakes, but they also take frogs and rats.

Status: This sub-species is killed on a large scale for its beautiful skin.

Venom: The venom of Monocled Cobra is reported to be less toxic than that of the Spectacled Cobra. The anti-venom produced by the Haffkine’s Institute is effective against its bite.

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