PHYSICAL FEATURES AND NATURAL RESOURCES

SNAKES

THOUGH SNAKES ARE PRESENT ALL, OVER THE DISTRICT, a large variety of them abound in the region of Vishalgad, Bhudargad, Bavda and parts of Gadhinglaj. The reported cases of death due to snake bite in this district for the years 1948-1952, as given below, indicate the role played by these animals in the life of the people in this district.

The snakes listed below are from records available in the Fauna of British India by Dr. Smith (1943), various observations in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society and personal investigations.

Non-Poisonous.

Family Typhlopidae

Typhlops porrectus (M. Daud).-These are small worm-like snakes, without any distinct neck- region. They are nearly blind. The colour ranges from deep to blackish brown and the scales on the body are cycloid. The pelvic girdle is represented by a couple of vestigeal bones. There is a spine at the tail end, which is used for burrowing in decaying wood and vegetation. It feeds upon worms and insects and grows to about eight inches in length and prefers to live underground.

Fam. Uropeltidea

Uropeltig Ocellatus and Uropeltis phipsoni.-The latter snakes are seen in the hilly and heavy monsoon regions of the district. The former is yellowish brown and the latter purplish brown. Transverse series of small yellow black edged ocelli are present on the dorsal side while the belly is brown with large yellow spots or cross-bars or mottled patches. They have small eyes at the tapering anterior end and grow to about 20 to 21 inches in length. They are found buried in soil at high altitudes, feeding on insects.

Family Boidae

Python molurus molurus, (M. Ajgar)

Eryx conicus (M. Parad)

Eryx Johni (M. Dutondya)

Python molurus molurus (M. Ajgar) differs from P. M. bivittatus by the indistinctiveness of the lance-shaped mark on head. These sluggish snakes prefer rocky slopes and also watery places. They are brown with pinkish spots and stripes. They grow up to 18 feet and often weigh more than 250 lbs. The food consists mainly of birds and mammals which are killed by constriction.

Eryx conicus (M. Parad and also Durkya Ghonas) yellowish, brownish or greyish above with a dorsal series of large, dark-brown, black-edged spots, usually confluent with one another to form a zigzag stripe; lower parts yellowish or whitish, the outer scale rows with small brown spots. Female is longer than male, two or three feet in length. It feeds on small frogs, birds, mammals and even snakes. It is a harmless sluggish snake often exhibited by snake charmers as poisonous.

Eryx Johni (M. Dutondya) is longer than Eryx conicus. It is sandy grey with black-edged dorsal brown scales, with distinct dark traverse bands, particularly in the tail end. The under-parts are whitish, spotted with dark brown. This snake is found more in hilly regions devoid of vegetation.

Fam: Colubridae.

This family is represented by the following species of snakes: -

1. Ptyas Mucosus (M. Dhaman).

2. Coluber jasciolatus (M. Nagin).

3. Liopeltis calamaria.

4. Oligodon taeniolatus.

5. Lycodon aulicus (Wolf snake).

6. Natrix piscator (M. Pan-divad).

7. Bioga forsteni.

8. Psammophis leithi,

9. Dryophis nasutus (M. sarptoli).

Ptyas mucosus (M. Dhaman).-Brown with irregular but strongly marked black cross-bars on the posterior half of the body forming a reticulate pattern. The younger ones have dark-edged cross-bars on the anterior surface. These are very agile snakes often growing to about 10 feet in length. When cornered they emit a sound of a milder tone than a kite and strike viciously. The bite is, of course, not poisonous. The male is slightly slate coloured. It is rumoured that these snakes wind round the feet of cattle and lash with their tail. However, it has been observed that this snake is capable of twining round a body into a sort of bowline knot which is normally difficult to open. It may be that such knots are used for anchoring while catching its prey. This snake is very common and is an important enemy of rats. Farmers should not destroy this snake, as it helps them on reduce rodents on the farm.

Coluber fasciolatus (M. Nagin).-Older individuals are uniformly brown with lower parts whitish or yellowish. The snake grows to about 4½ feet in length and is very vicious. When cornered, it erects and flattens the body behind the neck like a cobra; so it is often mistaken to be a cobra.

Liopeltis calamaria.-Light-brown with black-edged scales showing distinct longitudinal lines along the vertebral region. A series of dark spots on each side of the head. These snakes are found particularly in the hilly region, though not very common.

Oligodon taeniolatus.-Light-brown to buff above with narrow black transverse cross-bars, the colour of which is confined to the edges of the scales. There are at least five colour variations. This snake is seen in gardens and often mistaken to be a krait. It is a harmless snake.

Lycodon amlicus.-These snakes are particularly nocturnal in habit and are excellent climbers. They bite readily when molested. It has a fondness for entering human habitations. It grows to about one foot in length and due to its deep brown colour and whitish cross-bars, it is often mistaken to be a krait. It is a harmless snake.

Natrix piscator (M. Pan-divad).-It is essentially a snake of the plains living near water, breeding prolifically olive coloured with black spots dorsally and a whitish belly similarly edged with dark spots. It grows to three feet and feeds on frogs. It is easily tamed and many snake charmers carry this snake in their bag. A couple of more species of Natrix are also available in the district.

Boiga forsteni (Cat snake).-Brown or reddish above with more or less regular, angular black spots or cross-bars with white spots between them. These are more distinct on the anterior half. This snake is more arboreal, feeding on calotes and birds and their eggs. It grows to about 4½ feet in length and is very vicious. It coils into a sort of figure of eight and strikes very viciously. It kills the prey by constriction.

Psammophis leithi.-Light, yellowish above with four dark-brown longitudinal stripes, the median pair on either side of the vertebral line, conspicuous and bordered on each side with black spots which may be continuous with one another, extending up to the eye.

This snake grows up to two feet in length.

Dryophis nasutus (M. Sarptoli).-Verdant green above, the interstitial skin, black and white, forming oblique lines best marked on the anterior half of the body. Pale-green below. It is essentially a snake of the trees living on lizards and birds' eggs. It looks harmless, but stares at the face and often has the habit of darting at the eyes.,

Poisonous Snakes.

Fam.: Elapidae.-This is represented by the following snakes:-

Bungarus caeruleus (M. Manyar).

Bungarus fasciatus (M. Aghi Manyar).

Naja naja (M. Nag).

Callophis melanurus.

Bungarus cceruleus (M. Manyar).-Black above with a bluish line and having narrow white equidistant cross-bars more in the posterior region. Dorsal row of hexagonal scales and a single row of complete caudals distinguish this snake from others. It is a very quiet snake growing to about 4½ feet in length feeding on rats and other snakes. This is one of the most poisonous snakes of India, the poison of which is neurotoxic.

Bungarus fasciatus (M. Aghi Manyar) is found in the hilly regions. It is alternately banded with black or purplish-black bands on a yellow background. Head is bordered by a yellow stripe. The specimen grows up to four feet in length and is said to be poisonous.

Naja naja (M. Nag.).-This is quite a familiar snake with a hood, on which may be present a spectacle mark. The colour is brown but there are cases where the specimen was yellow. Such yellow specimen turn brown after a continuous exposure to atmosphere. This snake is not normally aggressive. It is worshipped on Nagpanchmi day. The main food consists of frogs, and rodents and the maximum length is about 5 feet 6 inches. When cornered it hisses intermittently and strikes with force. The poison is neurotoxic and this is an important poisonous snake of the locality.

Callophis melanurus (Coral snake).-Light brown above, head and neck black with yellow spots, tail with two black rings and the belly reddish in live specimen. This snake growing to above 2½ feet curls up to expose the red under surface. It is a poisonous snake.

Fam: Viperidae.-This is represented by Vipera russelli (M. Ghonas), Echis carinatus (M. Phoorsa) and Trimeresurus malabaricus.

Vipera russelli (M. Ghonas).-Light brown above with three longitudinal series of large rounded or oval spots. These are usually brown in the centre and have a black margin edged with white. The vertebral chain may be confluent and the outer spots may be broken at their lower margins. This snake may be found both on the hills and in the plains. It hisses very loudly and deeply. It moves in a leisurely manner, but when disturbed and roused, it strikes with great force and determination literally hurling itself at its enemy. Grows to Above five feet.

The poison fangs are bigger than those of the cobra and the action of the poison is more on the vascular system. It is one of the four most common poisonous snakes of India.

Echis carinata (M. Phoorsa).-This small snake of the semi-desert is found in the rocky regions. It is a vicious creature, biting with least provocation, with great malice and with a lightning-like rapidity. When excited it has the peculiar habit of rubbing the sides of the body against one another, in doing so forming almost the figure of 8 with its head in the centre. It grows to about two feet in length. It is a brown snake with deep brown spots on the body and an arrow-shaped mark on the head. It is one of the four most common poisonous snakes of India.

Trimeresurus malabaricus.-This green pit viper growing to about two feet may be met with in jungles at high altitudes.

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