GENERAL

SNAKES

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

Introduction.

Snakes, both poisonous and non-poisonous, in the district are more or less the same as those found in Satara district. Now-a-days the number of deaths due to snake-bites has considerably come down due to the invention of antivenom serum. An account of the snakes found in the district is given below: —

Family: Typhlopidae.

Non-Poisonous.

Typhlop braminus.—Locally called Kadu, is a very small, slender snake, like an earthworm, growing from.152 to.177 metres (6" to 7") in length and brownish black in colour. It usually burrows in loose moist soil or in debris. The scales on the body are imbricate. Sometimes it is found in kitchen gardens and even in backyards of residences. It is absolutely harmless. Lycodon, aulicus and Oligodon sp. have been reported from this region. These wolf-snakes are small with deep brown cross marks on a pale body. They are often mistaken for kraits.

Family: Uropeltidae.

Snakes of this family are purplish green with yellow specks and measure from .203 to .228 metres (eight to nine inches). The tail is very short with a transverse edge for digging and the bodies are covered by a series of rough spiny scales. These are primitive snakes and are normally met with under bushes and moist leaves.

Family: Colubridae.

Ptyas mucosus.—It is locally called Dhaman. It is yellowish in colour with broken black lines on the back. It measures from 2.43 to 3.66 metres (eight to twelve feet) and moves very quickly and also scales the trees.

Natrix piscator.—It is a water snake found in ponds. It is olive brown with black lateral lines and checkered broad designs posteriorly. It grows from 1.21 to 1.82 metres (4' to 6').

Natrix stolata.—It is frequently encountered during rains and grows up to.609 metres (two feet). It is olivaceous with brown longitudinal stripes.

Dryophis sp.—It is a long slender parrot-green snake with an elongated snout growing up to.127 to.152 metres (five to six inches) in length. It is frequently found in the forest areas. This snake stays on green branches with an erect and pointed head. It is locally called Harantol or Sarptol.

Family: Boidæ.

Eryx conicus.—It is a small stumpy snake with a very blunt tail, brownish black and with a broken yellow pattern. It burrows by both ends. It is locally called Mandol.

Python molurus.—It is very rarely found in the forests of the district. It is locally called Ajagar and grows from 3.66 to 4.57 metres (12' to 15') in length. On the entire back there is a broken design of grey and brown patches with a streak of pink stripe by the side of the head. It normally inhabits areas adjoining lakes and thick forests and kills animals by strangulation.

Family: Elapidæ.

Poisonous.

Naja naja.—This is cobra, which is locally called Nag, Akdya, Bhujang, Farted or Khadyanag. It is distinguished by its habit of spreading a hood which may bear a spectacle mark or may be without a mark. Its colour is yellowish brown or in some rare cases black and the maximum length recorded is 1.68 metres (5'—6"). This snake is many a time found near human habitations and feeds on rats, frogs, etc. Being very poisonous, it takes a heavy toll by its venom which is neurotoxic. Once a year on the Nagpanchami day which falls some time in August, the local population worships this snake. In fact at Shirala. a large number of inhabitants collect these snakes on this day and a fair is held on the occasion which attracts a large number of people. It is believed that on this day either the snake does not bite or the poison is not effective. Investigations have shown that a large majority of snakes handled on this occasion are non-poisonous.

Bungarus coeruleus,.—This krait snake is not a common snake. It is locally called Manyar. It is steel-blue with white double or single cross lines on the body. It is a very poisonous snake. A very timid snake that does not grow beyond 1.21 metres (four feet), it is found in crevices and cracks of walls. It is distinguishable from Oligadon by the presence of a series of hexagonal scales on the dorsal part of the body. The poison is neurotoxic and is well-nigh more toxic than cobra poison.

Family: Viperidae.

Vipera russelli.—This is locally called Ghonas. It is brown with three chains of elliptical deep brown marks dorsally. The head is triangular and during the mating season the colour becomes slightly pinkish in males and a bit faint in females. During mating and breeding season, which is. the summer and the monsoon, the amount of poison given is more and it is slightly more toxic, than that given at other times.

This snake is met with in bushy areas and when encountered hisses loudly and continuously. It can hurl and strike to a distance of.914 metres (three feet). The venom is vasotoxic and the bite is accompanied by a swelling and a severe burning pain.

Echis carinatus.—This snake is frequently met with during the rainy season, more in the plains and in areas with a reddish soil. Locally it is called Phoorsa. It grows to about.457 metres (18 inches) in length, and moves characteristically as a side winder. The body is olivaceous with black patches, but the head bears a white arrow mark. It strikes viciously and the amount of poison given is not lethal but the victim starts bleeding within 24 hours from any opening in the body. There is quite an amount of swelling at the site of the bite and often necrosis may also follow a severe burning pain.

Trimmeresurus malabaricus.—A grown-up snake, olive green with distinct blackish spots dorsally and yellow ones laterally, is pale green ventrally and grows to about.609 metres (2 feet); the young are brown above and grey below. It has a prominent lip and a pit too. It is normally found in the hilly regions amidst bomboo growth.

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