PHYSICAL FEATURES AND NATURAL RESOURCES

SNAKES

SNAKES [The section on "Snakes" was contributed by Dr. P. J. Deoras of the Haffkine Institute, Bombay.]: This district of Maharashtra State extends into a region which is mountainous on one side and runs into sea from the other. In the sea side area there are extensive sandy places with stones. The local people use these stones as hedges by heaping them loosely one on the other. The rainfall is heavy and the soil at many places is reddish. All these factors have contributed to the growth of certain varieties of snakes in very large numbers in this area.

In fact the statistics collected by the Director of Public Health have revealed that the number of people dying in this district due to snake-bites for 1956, 1957 and 1958 was the highest in the whole of the then Bombay State, coming to 136, 148, 166, respectively. The mortality due to snake-bites in previous years also indicates that more people died in this district than in others. Previously, Government spent a certain amount of money in destroying snakes such as the saw-scaled viper which is predominant in this area.

There is a record that as many as 140,828 echis were killed in 1877 for collecting rewards offered by Government at the rate of annas 2 per snake. Even now the maximum number of echis carinatus, locally called Phoorsa snakes, are available mostly from this district. During the collection of snakes made recently for scientific purposes as many as 2,000 snakes of this variety could be collected within a period of 20 days in an area of 20 miles in Deogad taluka of the Ratnagiri district. The local farmers collect these snakes by bamboo-forceps and bring them for sale. During the rainy season many cases of snake-bite particularly by, these snakes are encountered. The largest collection of these snakes is made primarily from Deogad taluka of Ratnagiri district. The maximum temperature of Deogad goes to 90°F. and humidity up to 94. The minimum temperature does not go beyond 68°F. These factors are responsible for the growth of snakes of this species.

Family: Colubridae.

Non-poisonous.

This family is represented by Eryx conicus, Eryx Johnii and Python molurus.

Eryx conicus.—This short snake with a blunt tail is found all over the district. It is locally called Dutondya. There are brown irregular patches on a grey body. This snake is very sluggish and grows to about two and a half feet. It feeds on frogs, lizards and mites and is absolutely harmless. It may be mistaken to be the young one of a python. The latter is pink and is much thicker with a fine tapering tail.

Eryx johnii has no patches and is blackish in colour. This is slightly longer than Eryx conicus and stays more or less submerged in soil. This is also a harmless snake.

Python molurus.—This snake is called ajgar by local people and is found in the forests. It grows to fourteen feet in length. There are brown patches on a grey body with a pink head and faint brown lower sides. It is an omnivorous snake which feeds on anything living which it kills by constriction.

Family: Colubridae.

Oligodon sp.—This brown snake with thick, pale cross bars on the body is found near human habitations and in gardens. It is often mistaken to be a krait. This is a harmless snake and it feeds on insects and frogs.

Lycodon aulicus.—This wolf snake is quite common all over the district. It grows to about two feet and is also mistaken for a krait. It is a harmless snake, having brown colour with whitish cross bars.

Natrix piscator —This snake is locally known as "Pandiwad". It is a checkered green-black snake which is of olive colour with black irregular markings. It is found in muddy places.

Ptyas mucosus.—This is locally known as " Dhaman ". It is a long snake growing to about nine feet and is seen all over the district. There are big yellowish brown marks all over the body and also in the tail region and at the sides. This snake is harmless but is often mistaken to be a poisonous snake. This snake brings down the population of rats and as such it is also called a rat-snake.

Natrix stoleta.—This snake is found more after the rains. It does not grow more than three feet and has brown and black longitudinal stripes. It can be handled with ease and many people keep this snake as a pet. It is absolutely harmless.

Dryophis nasutus.—This parrot green snake growing to about five feet in length and having a very pointed head is locally known as sarpatoli '. It has the peculiar habit of staying amidst vegetation and keeping a raised head. It should not be mistaken with the tree viper. The latter has a deeper green colour, a triangular head, is much thicker and smaller in size than this snake.

Boiga gokool.—This is the cat snake which is prevalent in the area of low lying forests. This snake is yellowish above with a series of vertical bars on each side separated from one another by a light vertical line. The head has a large arrow shaped black edged mark. It grows to four feet and is very much feared though it is a non-poisonous snake. Biago forstens is also found in this region.

Cereberus sp.—This species is found in the coastal area of the district.

Family : Elapidae.

Poisonous.

Nungaurs coerulus.—This common krait which is locally known as " Manyar " is met with at the bottom of the foot-hills. In this region this snake does not grow more than about three feet. It is steel blue with white double cross bars over the body. It is a very poisonous snake and the venom is neurotoxic.

Callophis mellenurus.—This may be found in the areas adjoining Goa and Karwar. It is light brown with deep brown scales and light longitudinal lines all over the body.

Naja naja.—Cobras are common all over the district. Both the binocellate and no mark varieties are seen in this district. Brownish and blackish varieties are found all over the district. This snake can never be mistaken. It is worshipped because of its frightful colouration and the hood as well as the poison. It is quite a deadly snake and the poison is neurotoxic.

Family: Viperidae.

Vipera russelli.—This snake is locally called " Ghonas " or " Kandar ". It is a brown snake having three rows of deep brown white ringed marks on the dorsal side. It hisses loudly and its sound could be heard from a very long distance. The poison of this snake is vaso-toxic and the bite is pretty painful.

Echis carinatus.—It is locally called "Phoorsa". Ratnagiri district and particularly Deogad taluka is the reservoir of these small snakes. The maximum length encountered in this area is 19". It is a brownish snake with diamond shaped deep brown marks all over the body in different patterns. The head bears a whitish arrow mark. The scales beyond the head and the side are serrate. It often sits forming the figure of '8' and makes a sound by rubbing the scales. It grows to about ten inches in length and often strikes while one is moving near about. The poison of this snake is vaso-toxic.

The maximum number of snake-bites in the district are due to this snake alone. The amount of poison given by this snake at a bite is less than the lethal dose. The victim does not, therefore, die immediately but the symptoms go on assuming a dangerous shape. In about three days the wound would grow to an unusual shape and the person may start bleeding from all over the body. The death is not due exactly to the poisoning but to the secondary symptoms which develop later on. In Deogad taluka this snake is frequently found all over the area under stones and in the hedges Which are made up of stones. It feeds on small lizards, scorpions and a majority of insects found nearby.

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