8/9/2019 Common Snakes of Central India

1/1

SAW-SCALED VIPER Echis carinatus

COMMON CAT SNAKE Boiga trigonata

COMMON SAND BOAGongylophis conicus

COMMON WOLF SNAKE Lycodon aulicus

INDIAN RAT SNAKEPtyas mucosa

GREEN KEELBACK Macropisthodon plumbicolor 

RUSSELL’S VIPER Daboia russeli

COMMON KRAIT Bungarus caeruleus

INDIAN COBRA Naja naja

BAMBOO PIT VIPERTrimeresurus gramineus

NON-VENOMOUS

NON-VENOMOUS

NON-VENOMOUS NON-VENOMOUS NON-VENOMOUS NON-VENOMOUS

Snakes are cold-blooded animals that have been present on earth for the past 125 to 112 million years. They are distributed throughout the world except in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. About 2900 species of snakes are found on our planet, of which 600 species are venomous.India is home to over 278 species of snakes, of which only 61 are venomous., and is well known for the “Big Four” venomous snakes causing most human deaths: the Indian Cobra, Common Krait, Russel’s Viper, and Saw-scaled Viper.

The reasons for death are usually lack of awareness and absence of timely and effective medical treatmen t.

Keep the surroundings clean.

 Keep the house free of rats.

 Keep bags on a raised platform.

 Always checkbeddings and clothes before using

 them.

 If you see a snake,remain calm and immediately 

call a rescuer.

 Always wear shoes or gumboots when on feld.

 If you are working late in the evening,carry a

stickand torch.

 Always be cautious about anysnake you see

and give it enough space.

DOs: Keep the victim calm with minimum movements. Remove any tight items such as watches or socks. Monitor vital signs like perspiration and fever. Take the victim to the nearest treatment centre assoon as possible.

DON’Ts: Do not capture the snake. Do not cut near the bitten area. Do not tie a cloth near the bitten area. Do not try to suck out the venom. Do not apply ice. Do not rely on local shamans .

→Snakes do not drinkmilk.Snakes that are fed milkdie soon.

→There is no snake pearl,it is often the snake’s shiningscales on the head.

→Snakes do not have beards,it is usuallythe s nakeskin which theymoult as theygrow in size.

→Snakes do not remember faces,nor do they take revenge.

→None of the snakes found in India can spit venom.→Sand Boas do not have two heads.

→Snakes are the best pest controllers in farm lands.

→ Snakes are indicators of a healthy ecosystem.

→ All snakes are predatoryin nature but also form an

important part of the diet of manybirds

and mammals.

→ Snake antivenom is produced using snake’s venom.

It is the onlymedicine known to be effective in

treating a snake bite victim.

TO AVOID SNAKE BITES POST SNAKE BITE CARE

SNAKE SUPERSTITIONS ROLE OF SNAKES

CHECKERED KEELBACK Xenochrophis piscator 

BUFF-STRIPED KEELBACK Aphiesma stolatum

BRONZEBACK TREESNAKE Dendrelaphis tristis

INDIAN ROCK PYTHON Molurus molurus

COMMON WINE SNAKE Ahetulla nasuta

BRAHMINY BLIND SNAKE Ramphotyphlops braminus

RED SAND BOA Eryx johnii

CANTOR’S BLACKHEADED SNAKESibynophis sagittarius

FOSTERN’S CAT SNAKE Boiga forsteni

COMMON KUKRIOligodon arnensis

MONTANE TRINKET SNAKECoelognathus helena monticollaris

COMMON TRINKET SNAKECoelognathus helena helene

NEAREST TREATMENT CENTRETHE CORBETT FOUNDATIONCORBETT| KUTCH| BANDHAVGARH|KANHA| KAZIRANGA

 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

81-88,Atlanta,8thFloor,209,NarimanPoint, Mumbai,

Maharashtra40002 1

Tel.:+9122 614666400

PHOTOGRAPHCREDITSSiddharthEdake

AniruddhaDhamorikar

Dr.SharadKumar

POSTERCREATEDBYAniruddhaDhamorikar

 JanhaviRajan

 WWW.CORB ETTF OUNDATI ON.ORG

INFO@CORBETTFOUNDATION.ORG

FACEBOOK.COM/THECORBETTFOUNDATION

DISCLAIMER: This poster onlyserves as a guide tothe common snakes of Central India and gives basic

primaryrst aid information in case of a snake bite.

It should not be treated as a guide to treating snake

bites.In case of a snake bite,the victim must be taken to

the nearest hospital as soon as possible.

NON-VENOMOUS

NON-VENOMOUS

NON-VENOMOUS

NON-VENOMOUS

NON-VENOMOUS

NON-VENOMOUS

NON-VENOMOUS

NON-VENOMOUS NON-VENOMOUS

NON-VENOMOUS

NON-VENOMOUS

COMMON SNAKES OF CENTRAL INDIA

    V   E  N OM O  U   

S        V   E  N OM O  U   

S        V   E  N OM O  U   

S        V   E  N OM O  U   

S        V   E  N OM O  U   

S    

Upto0.4 m inlength.

Distinctarrow-shapedmark onhead.Rubsscaleswhendistrubed.

Feedsonlizards,frogsandmice.Foundunder rocks,crevicesand leaf litter.

MistakenforSaw-scaledViper.Upto0.4to0.7min length.

Usuallyatthe baseof shrubsandnear forestoor.Nocturnalinnature.

Coopsintoan ‘S’tostrike whenthreatened.Feedsonlizards,frogs andmice.

Mistakenfor Russel’sViper.Upto1 m inlength.

Stout,keeled bodywith small spikesthat helpthe snake during burrowing.

Prefersliving underground.Feedsonratsandmice byconstricting.

Mistakenfor CommonKrait.

Upto1 m inlength.Brownishsnake withprominentbands near

headthat getnarrower towardstail.Excellentclimber onwalls andusually 

  foundhiddenincrevicesandholes.

MistakenforIndianCobra.Upto2m inlength.

Commonlyencounteredsnake,speciallyduringday.Blackbandsbeloweyeand nearmouth.Feedsonrats,lizards,andsmallbirds.

Oftenseeninterritorialghtsinsummer.

MistakenforBambooPit Viper.Upto1m inlength.

Usuallyfoundin tallgrassand openlands.Calmbynatureand seldombites.Feedslargelyontoads andfrogs.

 Juvenileshaveblackand yellowmarkingsonhead.

Upto1 to 1.5 m inlength.

Hisseswhen agitated(which soundslike apressure cooker whistle).

 Aggressive snake,active during dayand night.Primarilyfeedsonrats.

Upto1 m inlength.

Blackwithsi ngle or pair of white bands.Nocturnal innature.

Distincthexagonal scaleson back.Feedson other snakes.

Upto1 to 2 m inlength.

Displayshood whendisturbed.Commonlyfound near rocks.

Primarilyfeedsonrats,hence occasionallyenters homes.

Upto1 m inlength.

Greenin colour witha triangular head.Staysclose to the base of plantsinwait of prey.

Primarilyfeedsonlizardsandmice.Huntsby ambush;active atnight.