GENERAL

SNAKES

[The section on "Snakes" was contributed by Dr. P. J. Deoras, Assistant Director, Department of Entomology, Haffkine Institute, Bombay.]

Satara district is bounded by Poona district in the North, Sholapur district in the East, Sangli district in the South and Ratnagiri and Kolaba districts in the West. The western boundary is hilly due to the mountain ranges which extend from Mahabaleshwar in North to Patan in the South.

Though deaths due to snake-bites are low as compared with those in Ratnagiri district, they ranged from 82 maximum to 7 minimum in the last 10 years.

The following is the account of snakes in this district.

Family: Typhlopidx.

Non-poisonous.

Typhlops braminus.—It is locally called " Kadu", a very small. slender snake, like an earthworm, growing from 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 to be Kraits.

Family: Uropeltidæ.

Two specimens of Uropeltid sp. were procured. They are purplish green with yellow specks and measure from 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: Colubridæ.

Ptyas mucosus.—This snake is commonly found all over the area and is locally called " Dhaman". It is yellowish in colour with broken black lines especially in the posterior region. Measuring from eight to twelve feet, it moves very quickly and even scales the trees. Feeding on rats, and moving near human habitations, it is many a time mistaken for cobra.

Natrix piscator.—A water snake invariably found in ponds and water accumulations is locally' called " Pandivad". This snake is olive brown with black lateral lines and checker board designs posteriorly. Growing from four to six feet, it is often collected by snake-charmers for display.

Natrix stolata.—This is a very common snake frequently encountered during rains. It does not grow beyond two feet, and is olivaceous with brown longitudinal stripes.

Dryophis sp.—A long slender parrot-green snake with an elongate snount growing up to five to six inches in length, is very frequently found in the forest areas. It is probably Dryophis nasutus. This snake stays on green branches with an erect and pointed head which is often mistaken to be under a hypnotic state. It feeds on small birds. Locally this snake is called " Harantol " or " Sarptol ".

Family: Boidx.

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 and is often mistaken to be a snake with two mouths at two ends. It is locally called " Mandol" and is often mistaken to be the young one of a python.

Python molurus.—It is a rare snake in this district, but is found in the forests of western range mountains. It is locally called "Ajagar". It grows from 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: Elapidx.

Poisonous.

Naja naja.—This is Cobra, which is locally called Nag, Akdya. Bhujang, Farud or Khadyanag. It is a very common snake which is distinguishable by its habit of spreading a hood. The hood may bear a spectacle mark or may be without a mark. The colour ranges according to the soil conditions. It is yellowish brown or in some rare cases black. The maximum length recorded is 5 feet 6 inches. This snake is many a time found near human habitations where it comes to feed on rats, mice and stray frogs. In villages it is found even in thatched roofs. Being very poisonous, it takes a heavy toll by its venom which is neurotoxic. Once a year on a Nagpanchami day which falls sometimes in August, the local population worships this snake. In fact at a place called Shirala, a large number of inhabitants collect this snake on this day in earthen pots and bring the pots near a temple, where worshipping is observed and a fair is held which attracts a large crowd. 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.—Locally called " Manyar ", this krait snake is not a common snake. It is steel-blue with white double or single cross lines on the body. It is no doubt a very poisonous snake and is so much dreaded that many villagers were observed to remark that "even its shadow would kill a victim". A very timid snake that does not grow beyond four feet, it is found in crevices and cracks of walls. It is distinguishable from Oligodon by the presence oi 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.

Callophis nigrescens.—This snake is found in the Mahabaleshwar region and is locally called " Raat". It is a snake of the hills living above 3,000 feet and grows to three feet in length. It is brownish above and has five black stripes. Top of the head is black with light irregular marking and a broad black bar on the nape. The ventral side is pinkish. The poison is neurotoxic.

Family: Viperidæ.

Vipera russelli.—This is locally called " Ghonas ". It is brown with three chains of eleptical deep brown marks dorsally. The head is triangular and during mating season the colour becomes slightly pinkish in males and a bit faint in females. This had led local people to believe that there are three different varieties from the point of view of the severeness of the pain. Naturally during mating and breeding season, which is summer and rains, 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 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 18 inches, 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, it is pale green ventrally and grows to about 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 bamboo growths.

TOP