GENERAL

SNAKES

[The section on snakes is contributed by Dr. P. J. Deoras of the Haffkine Institute, Bombay.]

SNAKES: Deaths due to snake-bites comparatively number less in this district as compared with the Ratnagiri district in the south.

Following snakes were reported as seen or killed by local people:―

Family: Boidæ.

Non-Poisonous.

Eryx (M. Durkya ghonas): Both the species, i.e., Eryx conicus and Eryx johni are available. Of these, the former, the reddish species, is with a broken pattern of design on the back. The latter is with white lines in the hinder portion of the body and tail and is more seen in the sandy regions. Both the types have blunt ends and are often mistaken to be young ones of a python.

Family: Colubridæ.

Ptyas mucosus (M. Dhaman): These are yellowish in colour with broken black lines on the sides, especially in the posterior region. It grows to eight feet and is extremely agile. Local people mistake it to be the female of a cobra.

Lycodon aulicus: Common snake found in fields and near-about houses and gardens. It is a slender, glossy snake with a flat head. Partly pinkish and dark it has white cross bands from neck to tail. It is normally met with in gardens.

Natrix piscator: It is a water snake and is invariably found in ponds and water accumulations. It is called Pandivad locally. This snake is greenish-brown with brown longitudinal lines at the sides. It grows to about five feet and has checkered black marks especially on the tail end. Natrix stolata locally known as Naneti is very common.

Dryophis nasutus (M. Sarptol or Harantol): It is a long, slender, green snake, common in bushy places. The colour is parrot green and it has a pointed snout which it projects and hangs, giving the impression of a green twig.

Poisonous.

Bungarous cæruleus (M. Manyar or Kandar): Bites by this snake are reported frequently. It is steel-blue and has double white bands across the body. The central row of dorsal scales is hexagonal and the ventral scales beyond the central region are complete. It normally lives in the crevices and is sometimes met with in thatched houses. It grows to about four feet and the poison is neurotoxic.

Naja naja (Common cobra) (M. Nag): This snake is characterised by its expanded hood. The hood may bear a spectacled mark or may have no mark at all. On the lower surface of the hood are four faint blackish cross bands. The snake may be deep brown. Sometimes a black variety may be met with and so also a yellow type. The latter, on continuous exposure to light, turns brown.

This snake is often found in houses also. It is worshipped on Nagpanchami Day and is known to keep the rat population in the farm down. The poison is neurotoxic.

Vipera russelli: Russell's viper is locally known as Ghonas. This snake grows to four feet, is thickish and has three rows of deep brown spots in chains on the dorsal side. It is faint or deep brown and the colouration varies with the season. It lies in curls and when disturbed hisses loudly and continuously. The bites from this snake are very painful and often a swelling develops at the spot. The poison is vasotoxic.

Echis carinatus (M. Phoorsa): It is found all over the district in the hilly areas. It does not grow beyond two feet and has on its triangular head a white arrow mark. The body has brown spots in central rows. The snake lies curled and moves like a side-winder. It is frequently found in red soil and often strikes without provocation. The amount of poison given by this snake is small, as such many deaths are not reported but the wound is painful and the patient suffers severely by the after-effects.

Trimeresurus malabaricus: This is a short triangular-headed green snake quite different from the slender whip snake, the Dryophis sp. It is found near bamboo plantations. The colour is leafy green and it grows to three feet. Bites are not frequent.

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