Tuesday, May 21, 2013
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Information about Snakes of Goa
1. Scientific name - Dendrelaphis tristis
Local name - Pasco
Size
1 metre
Identification
Elegant, with elongated head bluntly rounded snout, small nostril, large lustrous eyes with golden iris and round pupil.
Coloration
Purple brown, bronze brown or ruddy brown, belly creamy yellow, pale grey, greenish or bluish green.
Breeding
Oviparous, gestation 4 to 6 months, 6 to 7 eggs.
Habitat
Trees and bushes.
Prey
Lizards, tree frogs, snakes and birds.
Status
Common.
Distribution
Entire Goa.
Venom
Non venomous.
Behavior
Diurnal, arboreal. Active snake with quick movements, moves with fore body erect on ground, a lively snake that has the ability to jump; when annoyed they expand their body displaying sky blue scales.
2. Painted Bronzeback
Scientific name Dendrelaphis pictus
Local name Pasco or Nanato
Size 1465mm
Identification On scalation .
Coloration Red tongue.
Breeding Oviparous.
Habitat Semi forest (Arboreal).
Prey Lizards, tree frogs, snakes and birds.
Status Not common.
Distribution Western Ghats.
Venom Non venomous.
Behavior
Diurnal, arboreal. Active snake with quick movements, moves with fore body erect on ground, a lively snake that has the ability to jump; when annoyed they expand their body displaying sky blue scales.
3. Fostern Cat Snake
Scientific name
Boiga forsterni
Local name
Manjrea
Size
2 metre
Identification
Eyes like the eyes of cats.
Coloration
Dirty whitish or buff, powdered or marbled with brown, a series of large brown cross bars.
Breeding
Oviparous.
Habitat
Western Ghats or dense forest.
Prey
Bats, pigeon and poultry.
Status
Common.
Distribution
Western Ghats.
Venom
Semi venomous.
Behavior
Living in pairs, arboreal.
Indian Spectacled Cobra
Scientific name
Naja naja
Local name
Parro
Size
1.3 m
Identification
Spectacle mark on hood.
Coloration
Yellowish, brownish.
Breeding
April May, Gestation period 62 days, eggs hatch in 48 — 69, 12 to 22 eggs, both parents incubated.
Habitat
Heavy jungles,open cultivated lands, white ants nest, found in or near water.
Prey
Birds, frogs, rats, eggs, lizards and other snakes.
Status
Common.
Distribution
Entire Goa.
Venom
Venomous.
Behavior
Diurnal, usually more active or alert at night. Myth Take Revenge.
Checkered Keelback
Scientific name
Xenochrophis piscator
Local name
Aawale
Size
120 cm
Identification
Robust snake with oval head, slit like nostril, moderately large eyes with upward inclination. Checkered pattern on body.
Coloration
Strongly keeled scales and five rows of black spots on yellow or olivacous background, head olive brown with 2 black streaks one below and one behind the eye, belly white or yellowish.
Breeding
8 to 91 eggs, size 18 x 27 mm, gestation 55 to 67 days.
Habitat
Fresh water.
Prey
Frogs, fish and tadpole.
Status
Common.
Distribution
Entire Goa.
Venom
Non venomous.
Behavior
Nocturnal, aquatic facing upstream, very aggressive and very fast in striking.
Common Krait
Scientific name
Bungarus caeruleus
Local name
Kaner
Size
1.2 metre (we have caught 2m in Goa)
Identification
Long cylindrical body, iris black, pupil indistinguishable, tail short, scales shiny.
Coloration
Black above with paired narrow white cross bars indistinct.
Breeding
Feb to March, incubation, 6 to 15 eggs 35 x 19 mm
Habitat
Fields, scrub jungle, near water.
Prey
Snakes.
Status
Common.
Distribution
Entire Goa.
Venom
Haemotoxic & Neurotoxic
Behavior
Nocturnal, calm.
Variegated Kukri
Scientific name
Oligodon taeniolata
Local name
Gar Gar Sarp
Size
50 cm
Identification
Slender graceful snake with no indication of neck, tail short about 1/7 of length. Teeth structure is similar to a weapon called Kukri.
Coloration
Large transversely arranged dark brown black aged spots.
Breeding
Habitat
Hills, ever green forest.
Prey
Reptile eggs and frog spawn.
Status
Common.
Distribution
Western Ghats.
Venom
Non venomous.
Behavior
Diurnal.
Common Rat Snake
Scientific name
Ptyas mucosus
Local name
Deevodd
Size
314 cm
Identification
Elongated head, large eyes, robust body.
Coloration
Olivaceous brown, shaded between sepia and light mustard yellow, skin blackish, mottled with fawn or whitish transverse streaks. Belly is greyish white, dirty white or yellowish.
Breeding
Mating in May June, gestation 3 months, 6 to 14 eggs.
Habitat
Plains and forest.
Prey
Rodents, reptiles & birds.
Status
Common.
Distribution
Entire Goa.
Venom
Non venomous.
Behavior
Very active when disturbed. Myth If it remains in your house for one night, you become rich.
Indian Rock Python
Scientific name
Python molurus
Local name
Azgar, Aar
Size
5 metre (we have caught 6m in Goa)
Identification
Sensory pits on snout, massive built & length, arrow shape on head.
Coloration
Ground color greyish whitish or yellowish, patches of black or blackish.
Breeding
Mating during cold season, 8 to 100 eggs, 3 to 4 months gestation, 12 x 6 cm eggs. Female incubates eggs.
Habitat
Jungle dweller, open forest, rivers and ponds.
Prey
Mammals birds and reptiles.
Status
Common.
Distribution
Entire Goa.
Venom
Non venomous.
Behavior
At ease on land, in water, and on trees. Constrictor, hibernating. Myth Swallows human being.
Common Sandboa
Scientific name
Eryx sps
Local name
Malund or Dutundo
Size
60 cm
Identification
Stout, short & heavy body, short tail.
Coloration
Squarish blotches and patches of brown.
Breeding
Ovoviviparous.
Habitat
Plains and slightly hilly areas.
Prey
Rodents, birds and sometimes frogs.
Status
Common.
Distribution
Entire Goa.
Venom
Non Venomous.
Behavior
Nocturnal, constrictor, slow moving, burrowing. Myth Two-headed.
Beaked Sea Snake
Scientific name
Enhydrina schistosus
Local name
Size
1 metre
Identification
Oar shape tail, large snake with elongate, robust sub cylindrical forebody, compressed posteriorly large head short snout. Beaked shaped scale on upper lip
Coloration
Bluish or bluish grey above, yellowish belly.
Breeding
Viviparous, 4 to 9 young.
Habitat
Arabian sea.
Prey
Catfish.
Status
Common.
Distribution
River mouth and shallow coastal waters.
Venom
Venomous. Ten times more potent than cobra.
Behavior
Gentle.
Ocellate Shield Tail
Scientific name
Uropeltis ocellata
Local name
Khappar khawlya
Size
52 cm
Identification
Tapering small head.
Coloration
Olivaceous brown or green with paler center, Whole body with yellow spots, grouped in irregular chains..
Breeding
Ovoviviparous, 3 to 5 young.
Habitat
Hilly forest.
Prey
Earthworms.
Status
Common.
Distribution
Across Western Ghats.
Venom
Non venomous, non biting.
Behavior
Burrowing.
Trinket Snake
Scientific name
Elaphe helena
Local name
Taskar
Size
120 cm
Identification
Trinkets, broad dark stripe till tail from where trinkets end.
Coloration
Shades of brown, yellowish or whitish on lips.
Breeding
Oviparous, young hatch in June.
Habitat
Forest borders.
Prey
Mammals, lizards and snakes.
Status
Common.
Distribution
Western Ghats.
Venom
Non venomous.
Behavior
Arboreal.
Malabar Pit Viper
Scientific name
Trimeresurus malabaricus
Local name
Foorshe
Size
60 cm
Identification
Coloration
Green with brown patches on the body.
Breeding
Viviparous.
Habitat
Dense forest.
Prey
Frogs and small reptiles.
Status
Common.
Distribution
Western Ghats.
Venom
Haemotoxic.
Behavior
Slow moving, fast striking, nocturnal.
Green Whip Snake
Scientific name
Ahaetulla nasuta
Local name
Haryali
Size
1.25 metre
Identification
Green color, horizontal pupil, pointed snout. Long slender with elongate snout narrowing rapidly, large eye, iris powdered with gold, long tail.
Coloration
Bright verdant green, belly lighter shade of green, each side has narrow white stripes.
Breeding
Ovoviviparous, gestation 6 months, 3 to 23 hatchlings.
Habitat
Plains and low lands, bushes and scrub in jungles, gardens and groves.
Prey
Small mammals, birds, lizards snakes, tadpoles, fish and frogs.
Status
Common.
Distribution
Entire Goa.
Venom
Semi venomous.
Behavior
Diurnal, fast, when excited displays internal black and white checkered skin. Myth Strikes the head or shining object.
Common Wolf Snake
Scientific name
Lycodon aulicus
Local name
Kavadya Sarp
Size
60 cm
Identification
Glossy slender, pair shaped depressed head, black eye, tongue pinkish with white tip, neck slightly constricted.
Coloration
Brown color, light brown to dark cigar brown with yellow cross bars.
Breeding
4 to 11 eggs.
Habitat
Close to human habitation, mostly in houses.
Prey
Geckos, mice, skink.
Status
Common.
Distribution
Entire Goa.
Venom
Non venomous.
Behavior
Nocturnal aggressive, coiling and climber, even on smooth surfaces.
Common Worm Snake (Blind Snake)
Scientific name
Ramphotyphlops braminus
Local name
Teleo
Size
170 mm
Identification
Tiny earthworm-like but thinner and longer. Tiny eyes, oily.
Coloration
Shades of darker brown.
Breeding
Oviparous. April to July, 2 to 7 eggs (5 — 10 mm).
Habitat
Underground.
Prey
Larvae, pupae, small insects
Status
Common during monsoon.
Distribution
Entire Goa, except sandy places.
Venom
Non venomous, non biting.
Behavior
Solitary, burrower, slow moving. Myth Enters the ears of sleeping person.
