The Gazetteers Department

This district has some forest areas. There are small hills with little green bushes near them and some of them have caves too. The hillocks at Ambejogai, Manjarsumbha and Georai have plenty of scattered rocks, a few waterfalls and greenery near about them. They indicate that in olden times these have been very green belts. The area around Ambejogai mentioned as Butinath and Kapildhar near Manjarsumbha will definitely have snakes like Python, Uropeltis and a lot more.

There have been cases of snake bites around Pali near Bhir. This region is again hilly and has sparse forests. The region between Ambejogai and Bhir has belts of red soil in cultivation and Echis snakes would be found here. The temple of Yogeshwari has a Cobra idol on a slab of stone which is worshipped indicating the persistence of snake worship here.

The snakes in the region are as listed below:—

Non-Poisonous

Family: Typhlopiae.

Typhlops braminius—Marathi Dawdya: This small blind worm is found all over the district near human habitations and decaying vegetation. It is thinner than smallest human finger and does not grow beyond 203.20 mm. (8 inches). The body is covered all over by semicircular imbricate scales, the head and tail regions are both blunt and the lower side is faint brown while dorsally the snake is chocolate brown. There are no distinctions between upper and lower scales and the snake being round is often mistaken to be an earthworm. It is absolutely harmless.

Family: Boidae.

Eryx conicus—Marathi Dutondya: This blunt tailed snake is often mistaken to have two mouths. It is an absolutely non-poisonous snake, brown with reticulate grey markings dorsally and small pale cross scales ventrally.

Lycodon sp.: This wolf snake is common in the locality. Both Lycodon sp. and Oligodon sp. have been recovered from houses in Ambejogai and Bhir areas. These snakes are harmless but are unfortunately mistaken to be Kraits, because of the white bands on the brown body. In the case of a Krait, the central row of scales in the mid-dorsal region is hexagonal and the scales beyond the vent are not divided. This is not the case with a wolf snake. These snakes stay in the gardens eating frogs, lizards and rats and are helpful to the gardeners in controlling the vermin.

It is likely that Uropeltis sp. may be present in the forest region round about Butinath. This purple black snake with yellow specks measures about 228.60 mm. (9"). It's tail is blunt but has a transverse ridge meant for digging. It also has rough spikes in the tail region. It is a primitive snake which often is seen at high altitudes, and moist vegetation. It is nice to look at because of brown, yellow and grey colorations on a deep pink or brown body.

Python molurus—Marathi Ajgar: It is met with in water- fall areas of the little forest region, particularly in the areas where rocks jut out into water as at Butinath and Kapildhar. The snake is deep brown with variegated yellow patches all over the body. The head region is pink with a faint whitish pink lancet-shaped mark on the skull. The snake has small abdominal cross scales, and near the vent has two anal spurs which indicate the rudiments of past limbs. These spurs can cause serious injuries by scratching. The snakes grow to 4.27 m. (14') in length and may be 0.61 m. (2') in girth, when fullgrown. It has very powerful muscles by which it strangulates the prey to death before it feeds on them. It has been observed to kill quite big animals like goats, stags and even boars.

Family: Colubridae.

Ptyas mucosus—Marathi Dhaman: This rat snake is found all over the area. It is yellow with black dots more in the tail region. It has been seen to grow more than 3.05 metres (10'). It is very agile and has been observed to jump from trees. One of the curious habits of this snake is to tie a knot by its tail on whatever object it comes across. It is quite likely that the snake may be tying this knot against thin trees when lying in wait for rats. The snake is locally called Dhaman and is a great friend of farmers inasmuch as it reduces the number of rats by feeding on them. Many people unfortunately mistake this to be a poisonous snake and kill it.

Natrix piscator—Marathi Diwad: This checkered keel-black snake is found all over the district near ponds or accumulations of water. It grows to 1.37 m. (4½') in length and has, on an ash-coloured body, black squares or stripes which gives it the peculiar name of " Checkered keel-black". Sometimes a Little ash colour gives it an impression of olive green, particularly during the rainy season. It feeds primarily on frogs and avoids human interference, but when cornered, it attacks fiercely and can cause serious physical injuries.

Natrix stoleta—Marathi Naneti: The snake is buff coloured with white spots and a number of longitudinal thin brown stripes all over the body. It is predominantly found during the rainy season all over the area. It is docile and one could handle it without any danger. These snakes are thin and do not grow beyond 0.762 m. (2½'). They are absolutely harmless.

Dryophis nasutus.—Marathi Harantol: In some regions, it is called "Harantol" and in some "Sarptol". This is a long parrot green snake growing to more than 1.52 m. (5') in length and having a markedly pointed long head. It has the peculiar habit of remaining twined on vegetations, keeping the head separate as if to hypnotise the prey. The triangular head often times continues to shake and many a time people have been unaware of the snake on a tree till the head has come right up to the nose. The bite of the snake is painful though it is not poisonous enough to kill a man. It feeds on sparrows and on other smaller birds but could be handled with care. It is more seen in places of dense vegetation or on top of green trees.

Poisonous

Family: Elapidae.

Naja naja—Marathi Nag,. Domi: This is a very common snake all over the district. It seems to be found more near human habitation than in the interior. The longest could be 1.52 m (5 feet six inches). This snake can never be mistaken because of the spreading of the hood which is seen in no other snake. There are spectacle marks on the hood and three faint dark stripes on the under-surface of the hood. These two characteristics will always distinguish this snake from any other snake. Apart from this, the snake hisses before striking a prey. Though it is a poisonous snake, it avoids human approach, but if disturbed, it will attack with ferocity, even pursuing the victim to some distance. The poison of this snake is neuro-toxic. The snake is worshipped on Nagpanchami day during the rainy season and there are some images of the snake in the temple of Yogeshwari Goddess at Ambejogai.

Bungarus caeruleus—Marathi Manyar, Karayat: This snake is called "Dandekar" also in the district, though some people understand it by the word "Manyar". It is steel blue in colour with white cross bars all along the body. The central row of the dorsal scales is hexagonal and the scales beyond the vent are complete. It is a very timid snake growing to about 1.22 m. (4') in length. It occurs in crevices between stones and often times in the thatch. It is highly poisonous and the poison is neuro-toxic.

Family: Viperidae.

Vipera russelli—Marathi Ghonas, Kandar: This snake, locally known as Ghonas, is seen more in the scanty forest region of Ambejogai. Some people call it " Chitti", but this is a mistaken name. It grows to 1.22 m. (4') in length, is brown in colour and has three rows of deep brown elliptical spots all over the body. The head is triangular and the scales on the head are very small. It hisses very loudly and continuously. The fangs are 12.700 mm. (½') long and lie tucked on the sides of the jaw inside a sheath. It is very vicious and can strike in any direction. The venom is vaso-toxic.

Echis carinatus—Marathi Phoorsa: This snake, which is so common in Ratnagiri district, is found in very small numbers during the rainy season in the areas that have red soil. The local people call it Dhul Nagin. It does not grow to more than 18" in length and having brown spots on the body has a white arrow shaped mark on the head. It moves side-ways and can jump while striking. The poison may not kill the victim immediately, but the victim suffers from secondary reactions. The poison is vaso-toxic.