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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