Reptile Rap

Newsletter of the South Asian Reptile Network

ISSN 2230-7079 No.14 | June 2012
Date of publication: 04 June 2012

Contents

The conservation of Indian reptiles: an

approach with molecular aspects
-- V.M. Sathish Kumar, Pp. 2–8

Records of Indian Egg Eater Snake

Elachistodon westermanni in the
localities of Shegaon, District
Buldhana, Maharashtra, India
-- Abhishek Narayanan, Pp. 9–12

An observation on death of Python

Python molurus feeding on a male
Spotted Deer Cervus axis
-- Mohnish Kapoor, Pp. 13–14

Herpetofauna of the Vidyanagari

campus of the University of Mumbai,
Maharashtra
-- Madhav V. Upadhye, Vinayak V.
Puranik, Prasad Dabholkar & Ujwala
  Jadhav, Pp. 15–20

Herpetofaunal diversity in and around

the selected man-made wetlands of
central and northern Gujarat, India
-- Raju Vyas, B.M. Parasharya &
J.J. Jani, Pp. 21–26

A Malabar Pit Viper, Trimeresurus

malabaricus (Jerdon, 1854) morph from
the southern Western Ghats
-- Arun Kanagavel, Rajkumar Sekar, Nikhil
Whitaker & Rajeev Raghavan, Pp. 27–28

Sightings of King Cobra Ophiophagus

hannah in northern coastal Andhra
Pradesh
-- K.L.N. Murthy & K.V. Ramana Murthy,
Pp. 29–32

First record of Slender Coral Snake

Calliophis melanurus (Shaw, 1802)
south of the Palghat Gap, Western
Ghats
-- G. Shine & P.O. Nameer, Pp. 33–35

UGC Sponsored Major Research

Project on Herpetofauna, P. 36

www.zoosprint.org/Newsletters/ReptileRap.htm

OPEN ACCESS | FREE DOWNLOAD

1

The conservation of Indian reptiles: an
approach with molecular aspects
V.M. Sathish Kumar
Southern Regional Centre, 130 Santhome High Road, Zoological Survey of
India, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600028, India
Email: drsathishkumarvm@gmail.com
Taxonomy and
Conservation
India’s colossal biological
diversity can be credited to
the vast array of ecological
habitats ranging from tropical,
sub-tropical, temperate,
alpine to desert. According
to the World Biodiversity
Classification, India
represents two biodiversity
hotspots (Western Ghats
and northeastern India) and
has the richest vertebrate
fauna in Asia. According
to Ramakrishana & Alfred
(2006), the reptile fauna of
India consists of about 460
species; with 244 snakes, 178
lizards, three crocodiles, and
35 turtles. Among these, 33
are considered threatened.
Das (2003) reported 506
species within the political
boundaries of the Republic of
India. Aengals et al. (2011)
accounted 518 species of
reptiles which includes 3
species of crocodiles, 34
species of turtles and tortoises,
202 species of lizards and 279
species of snakes belonging
to 28 families. Molur &
Walker (1998) accounted
about 95 endemic reptile
taxa in the Western Ghats
of which 62 are reported
as vulnerable. However,
the information on Indian
reptiles is still introductory
REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
as alpha taxonomy with the
conventional outlook is yet to
absorb the modern molecular
trends in systematics and
conservation. A large number
of Institutions and Museums
in the country suffer from lack
of funding resources to pursue
various molecular researches
and many of the species
predicted to be taxonomically
enigmatic, or similar to known
species are still awaiting
formal detection using modern
techniques. The Zoological
Survey of India, the premier
institution, has played an
important role in promoting
animal systematics in the
country. But the National
Zoological Collection housed at
the Zoological Survey of India
which holds the largest reptile
collections in the country
dates back to the early part of
the 19th century; has yet to be
fully entered into electronic
databases. The Indian Wildlife
Protection Act (1972) that
legally denies permission to
export any biological sample
materials outside India also
hinders the research activities
of other developed countries
on Indian reptile groups.
Moreover, most species are
known from very few localities
and from few adults; a situation
that impedes both traditional
taxonomic advancement
2
and conservation efforts.
In addition, the genetic
information required for
extensive systematic revisions
for most genera is lacking.
The introduction of “New
Systematics” by Huxley
(1940) and Mayr (1942)
made/helped zoologists
realise the importance of other
characters to supplement the
morphological characters for
precise identification. This
is very significant for the
identification of unknown
biological material when
using a combination of
evidences (morphology,
behaviour, molecules, etc.)
instead of relying on one-
dimensional taxonomy (Bond
& Sierwald 2003; Seberg
et al. 2003; Lee 2004; Will
& Rubinoff 2004). Several
recent studies have applied
mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
markers in phylogeographic
studies to geographically
widespread taxa to determine
distinctive and unrecognized
evolutionary lineages (e.g.,
Avise et al. 1992; Zamudio et
al. 1997). Also, elucidation
of phylogenetic relationships
among closely-related taxa
is critical to correctly infer
a taxon (e.g. Arnold 1993;
Harvey et al. 1996; Roderick
& Gillespie 1998).
Taxonomic studies by
means of molecular techniques
have contributed significantly
to our perceptive of lineages
contained by species or
species groups. They have
endorsed for revisions of
taxonomically difficult groups,
often re­vealing unrecognized
taxa and smoothened the

progress of recognition of
isolated or distinctive lineages.
Molecular systematics
through PCR amplification and
sequencing makes the use of
various molecular techniques:
such as allozyme, isozyme,
mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to
provide information on the ge­
netics of wide-ranging species
or species groups in isolated
habitat. Therefore, molecular
techniques are crucial for
studies in phylogeography,
because it is “the field of study
concerned with the principles
and processes of genealogical
lineages, especially those
within and among closely-
related species” as stated by
Avise (2000). Such studies
can be carried out with Indian
lizard families Gekkonidae
and Lacertidae as its exact
phylogeny has not fully been
established yet. Also, with
mtDNA sequence, data, we
can investigate the systematic
relationships within genera or
species by using the rapidly
evolving control region of
the mitochondrial genome.
Because it has proven reliable
in resolving intraspecific
variation in many vertebrates
including turtles (Stewart &
Baker 1994; Encalada et al.
1996; Shaffer & McKnight
1996), accurately identifies
closely related emydid turtle
species (Lamb et al. 1994).
Besides, animal genome data
with potentially endless supply
of evolutionary and systematic
information can obviously be
used to infer species diagnosis,
description and identification.
Consequently, the taxonomy
of most organisms is better
REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
worked out for taxa occurring
in Europe and America than
the tropics. Therefore, some
of the current names for
tropical taxa could be the first
approximation to a complex
biological reality. The
sampling of subspecies within
a species does not promise
the sampling of significant
variation. Phylogenetic
studies of congeneric species
should therefore be shared
with phylogeographic surveys
of haplotype dissimilarity,
so that the monophyly of
populations of a putative
species with respect to others
can be tested.
As stated by Ball & Avise
(1992), the discussion about
the levels of intraspecific
or interspecific variation
necessary to distinguish
species and subspecies limits
has received considerable
notice in the last several
decades. Several current
studies that have discussed
the border line among inter
and intraspecific variation have
utilised molecular information,
mostly to test existing
hypotheses of species-level
relationships and boundaries.
At the same time, a number
of formerly documented
subspecies genetically match
though morphologically
they overlap, implying that
they probably should not be
recognized at any taxonomic
level. Parallel work on the
snake Pituophis melanoleucus
points that the conventional
outlook suggested by Conant
(1956) for the single polytypic
species is conflicting with
the molecular evidence, and
3
Painted Turtles Chrysemys
picta present an additional
outstanding prospect to
explore the question of species
boundaries within a widespread
species complex. According
to Bishop & Schmidt (1931),
the genus Chrysemys as
currently recognized contains
a single extant species,
C. picta. Four subspecies
are generally recognized:
Chrysemys picta bellii, C.p.
dorsalis, C.p. marginata, and
C.p. picta. Thus, decisions
regarding species and
subspecies boundaries can,
and do have dramatic impacts
on species conservation and
management (Shaffer et al.
2000).
After almost three
centuries of herpetological
work in India, a good number
of research papers have been
published. Though, the main
comprehensive works would
indisputably have been by
Malcolm A. Smith, and there
is no wonder that it took more
than twelve years for him to
produce these three separate
volumes on Indian reptiles.
Smith (1931) systematically
placed the crocodiles and
turtles in Volume I, the lizards
in Volume II (1935), and the
snakes in Volume III (1943).
These precious classics
have long been regarded as
fundamental references in the
library of any herpetologist
interested in Indian regions.
Further contributions were
made by Tiwari & Biswas
(1973), Sharma (1977, 1978,
1981, 1998, 2002, 2007),
Murthy (1985, 1994, 2010),
Das (1991, 1994, 1996, 1997

a&b, 2003), Tikedar & Sharma
(1992), Das & Bauer (2000),
Das & Sengupta (2000),
Daniel (2002), Whitaker &
Captain (2004), Gower &
Winkler (2007), Manamendra-
Arachchi et al. (2007),
Mukherjee and Bhupathy
(2007), Sharma (2007),
Thorpe et. al. (2007), Giri
(2008), Giri & Bauer (2008),
Das & Vijayakumar (2009),
Giri et al. (2009a), Giri et
al. (2009b), Mahony (2009,
2010), Pook et al. (2009),
van Rooijen & Vogel (2009),
Zambre et al. (2009), Haralu
(2010) and Venugopal (2010).
Today, about 518 species of
reptiles which includes three
species of crocodiles, 34
species of turtles and tortoises,
202 species of lizards and 279
species of snakes belonging
to 28 families (Aengals et al.
2011) are found in India. The
poorly resolved taxonomies
among some families (e.g.
Uropeltidae, Agamidae) has
created some confusion in
Indian reptile taxonomy
than in other vertebrates of
the more complex groups
and numerous new species
sit in laboratories/collection
halls awaiting more detailed
studies based on genetic
data. The recent taxonomic
revisions have elevated the
number of endemic uropeltid
species to 47 (based on
morphology). For instance,
David (2003) stated that the
taxonomy of uropeltids is
unstable and is likely to be
substantially revised in future.
For such groups, interspecific
hybridisation could be
very common. Therefore,
REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
very apparent as they are
according to biological species
concept, the whole group terrestrial. Forest species are
is to be placed and treated more vulnerable due to their
under a complex species. lack of ability to resist the
Since many subspecies are high temper­atures of open
not distinct species, they are
formations. Most common
reproductively compatible andand widely distributed species
will periodically interbreed with
are more resistant, but many
adjacent subspecies. These will disappear when their
breeds pose several problems habitats are totally eliminated.
to the evolutionary zoologistMoreover, people fear or
and could be misidentified asdislike snakes; they tend to
a new species adding up to be killed whenever they are
more confusion. This could seen.
be because the zoologists Crocodiles and turtles
confined their studies
are hunted for their meat
mainly to the morphological and eggs. Construction of
characters, ignoring the
hydroelectric dams alters the
detailed analysis of the entire habitat in the area of
interspecific and intergeneric
the reservoir, thus should be
breeds and most of their treated as a real local threat.
descriptions were based on Even as animals run away,
single “type” specimens.
large numbers are rescued
Members of a subspecies and dumped in nearby forests,
share a unique geographical even though the impacts on
range or habitat, a group the ecology and biology of the
of recognizable genetically nearby populations are mostly
controlled characteristics,
unknown as stated by Pavan
morphological or molecular, (2002). Dams are likely to
and a unique natural history cause huge potential impacts
as compared to other
on the reproductive bi­ology
subspecies. Accordingly,
of the turtle and crocodile
those who adhere to purely populations downstream and
morphological species concepton the population formation
should also refer to the of lizards and snakes even
genetic characteristics before
though these impacts may
assigning any taxonomic status
not be instantly evident.
to the sample. However, bear The smaller forest reptiles
in mind that all subspecies are very vulnerable to mi­
have the potential to suitable
croclimate changes. Agro­
adaptations to their specificchemicals are another major
ecological habitat and also threat and may be especially
have the potential to evolve serious in small protected
in to a new species. areas surrounded by agricul­
tural land. The long-term
Principal threats effects of these threats need
Habitat alteration is the to be understood in order to
major threat. The impacts delineate appropriate conser­
on lizards and snakes are vation strategies. Therefore,
4
 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
monitoring of reptile populations currently isolated should also include finding
populations is es­sential in are of great interest for setting out the effects of geographic
situations such as these. priorities for taxa as well as barriers, such as larger
protected ar­eas. rivers, mountains or national
Threatened species Many publications claiming highways which could restrict
Indian reptiles are a poorly- to address the conservation of the movements of reptiles
studied group since information Indian reptiles communicate between populations, thus
regarding distribution, little or nothing about the usage preventing any genetic
population dynamics and most of molecular techniques with exchange between them. The
of the information available is regard to reptile conservation; absence of data is not a firm
from only a few well-studied hence there is a broad lack of basis for being indifferent to
locations. Owing to the genetic data, which could lead claims of reptilian declines.
widespread destruction of to inadequate systematics One simple response is to
India’s natural veg­etation and ending up with taxonomic call for immediate monitoring
landscapes, Ramakrishana revision of many taxa. In programs, but this requires
& Alfred (2006) reported 33 some ways, the current additional consideration of,
reptiles species as threatened level of knowledge of reptile for example, how monitoring
category. Gavialis gangeticus population is very significant should be undertaken and
is critically endangered while even though the causes of which species and habitats
the other two crocodile reptile declines have been should be investigated. To
species; Crocodylus porosus made without clear evidence begin to address these
and Crocodylus palustris and few suggestions about questions, more fundamental
are threatened. The turtles how to progress. Therefore, research in reptilian biology is
(Dermochelys coriacea, the current situation of needed. In particular, genetic-
Dermochelys imbricate, reptile conservation in India based research will improve
Chelonia mydas, Lepidochelys needs special attention with the knowledge of reptilian
olivacea, Batagur baska) further advanced research. biology and will dramatically
are threatened from To overcome these problems, increase the chances of
overexploitation and numerous the application of molecular identifying instances of
other threats, such as habitat data is requisite to explore possible decline that merit
destruction, predation of its the accurate species limits. dedicated study. Species that
eggs and the slaughter of Nearly all known Indian have not been reported for
nesting adults or flesh by reptiles probably occur in many years, often since their
man. The monitor lizards are protected areas, even though initial description, should be
also listed as threatened and the mere protection of a the main concern for accurate
vulnerable. single population is obviously and precise revisions of
insufficient to maintain conservation-status data.
Conclusion the genetic variability in The key in conservation
Morphology when the species’ component assessment is to find out
supplemented with more popu­lations. To improve isolated or patchy populations
refined genetic data is essential representation, we need in order to formulate
for a better understanding of a better un­derstanding of conservation strategies.
the dynamics of population in their distributions - strategic Therefore, gaining an
a highly frag­mented habitat. field surveys and complete understanding of diversity pat­
Unfortunately, as of today electronic databases with terns, monitoring the genetic
there is no reported use of adequate genetic information variability of populations in
extensive genetic studies of are vital (Graham et al. 2004) fragments, and comparing
Indian reptiles to uncover for the conservation future of them to populations isolated
the divergence patterns of these animals. Researches at different times in the

5

past would be invaluable
contributions to conservation
of Indian reptiles. Although,
it was stated by the great
herpetologist Smith (1931) Bishop, S.C. & F.J.W. Schmidt
“the herpetological fauna
of the country is now well
known”, even after three
quarters of a century we know
little about the patterns and
Bond, J.E. & P. Sierwald
processes responsible for the
evolution and differentia­tion
of our reptile fauna. We are
still in the exploratory phase
in terms of our understanding
of India’s reptile diversity, and
no area and no taxa should Conant, R. (1956). A review of Encalada, S.E., P.N. Lahanas,
be regarded as having low
biological importance without
exhaustive inventories and
field sur­veys.
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countries. Reptilia (Serpentes)
- III. Published by the Director,
Zoological Survey of India,
Kolkata, 410pp.
Smith, M.A., (1931). The Fauna
of British India, including
Ceylon and Burma. Vol. I -
Loricata, Testudines. Taylor
& Francis, London, xxvii+
185pp+2pl.
Smith, M.A. (1935). The Fauna
of British India, including
Ceylonand Burma. Reptilia
and Amphibia. Vol. II - Sauria.
Taylor & Francis, London,
xiii+440pp+1pl.
Smith, M.A. (1943). The Fauna
of British India, Ceylon and
Burma,including the whole
of the Indo-Chinese region.
Vol. III. Serpentes. Taylor &
Francis, London, xii+583pp+1
map.
Stewart, D.T. & A.J. Baker
(1994). Evolution of mtDNA
D-loop sequences and their
use in phylogenetic studies
of shrews in the subgenus
Otrisorex (Sorex: Soricidae:
Insectivora). Molecular Phy-
logenetics and Evolution 3:
38–46.
Thorpe, R.S., C.E. Pook
& A. Malhotra (2007).
REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
Phylogeography of the Russell’s
Viper (Daboia russelii) complex
in relation to variation in the
colour pattern and symptoms
of envenoming. The Herpe-
tological Journal 17(4): 209–
218.
Tikedar, B.K. & R.C. Sharma
(1992). Handbook of Indian
Reptiles. Zoological Survey of
India, Kolkota, 250pp+42pls.
Tiwari, K. & S. Biswas (1973).
Two new reptiles from the
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of ZoologicalSociety of India
25(1&2): 57–63.
Rooijen, J.V. & G. Vogel
(2009). A multivariate
investigation into the
population systematics of
Dendrelaphis tristis (Daudin,
1803) and Dendrelaphis
schokari (Kuhl, 1820):
revalidation of Dendrophis
chairecacos Boie, 1827
(Serpentes: Colubridae). The
Herpetological Journal 19:
193–200.
Venugopal, P.D. (2010).
Addentum to An updated and
annotated list of Indian lizards
(Reptilia: Sauria) based on a
review of distribution records
and checklists of Indian
reptiles. Journal of
Threatened Taxa 2(4): 848.
Venugopal, P.D. (2010). An
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checklist of Indian reptiles.
Journal of Threatened India for providing support and
Taxa. 2(3):725–738.
Whitaker, R. and Captain,
A. (2004). Snakes of India.
8
The Field Guide. Draco Books,
Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu,
xiv+479, pls, text-figs.
Will, K.W. & A. Rubinoff
(2004). Myth of the
molecule. DNA barcodes
for species cannot replace
morphology for identification
and classification. Cladistics
20: 1–9.
Zambre, A., C. Sheth, S. Dalvi
& N. Kulkarni (2009). First
Record Of Protobothrops
jerdoni xanthomelas (Günther,
1889) from Eaglenest Wildlife
Sanctuary, India. Journal of
the Bombay Natural History
Society 106(2): 211–213.
Zamudio, K.R., K.B. Jones &
R.H. Ward (1997). Molecular
systematics of short horned
lizards: Biogeography and
taxonomy of a widespread
species complex. Systematic
Biology 46: 284–305.
Zamudio, K.R. & H.W. Greene
(1997). Phylogeography of
the bushmaster (Lachesis
muta: Viperidae): implications
for neotropical biogeography,
systematics and conservation.
Biological Journal of the
Linnean Society 62: 421–
442.
Acknowledgments
I am heartily grateful to
Dr. K. Venkataraman, Director,
Zoological Survey of India and
Dr. K. Rema Devi, Officer-in-
Charge, Southern Regional
Centre, Zoological Survey of
encouragement.

Records of Indian Egg Eater Snake
Elachistodon westermanni in the localities
of Shegaon, District Buldhana, Maharashtra,
India
Abhishek Narayanan
Project Coordinator, Rescue, Conservation and Education, Wildlife SOS 48,
Ayodhya Nagar, Near Vatika, Shegaon, Buldhana, Maharashtra 444203,
India
Email: narayanan.abhishek@gmail.com
The following record is
completely accidental and no
systemic survey technique or
search method was utilized
for the same.
The Indian Egg Eater
Snake is the only snake of the
genus Elachistodon recorded
in the Indian subcontinent.
As the name suggests, its
diet primarily consists of
eggs though not exclusively
(known to eat geckos in
captivity) (Gans & Williams
1954). Similar to its African
counterpart, a snake belonging
to genus Dyspeltis, it has
elongated inferior processes
of the anterior thoracic
vertebrae. They are not only
coated with enamel, but also
penetrate the esophagus,
which assists these snakes
to break the egg shell inside
the throat, and release the
protein-rich yolk inside the
gut (Boulenger 1890).
Indian Egg Eater Snake
was thought to be extinct
by Murthy et all. (1993).
According to Malcolm smith
et al. about five specimens
were recorded until late 1943
from the areas surrounding
Jalpaiguri District in northern
Bengal Smith (1943). Captain
et al. (2005) recorded it
for the first time in Wardha
REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
District of Maharashtra based
on a dead specimen. Thirteen
specimens (seven live, six
dead) were recorded in and
around Amravati District by
Nande et al. (2007). Apart
from this there have been
several unpublished records
the snake in certain localities
of Vidharbha region of
Maharashtra. Raju Vyas also
published some photographic
records in 2010 of this snake
in Gujarat. Considered
extremely rare, and from
isolated locations (as detailed
in Table 1) it was considered
as one of the least found
snake species on the Indian
subcontinent (Khaire 2010).
Its behavior and habits are
relatively unknown (Dandge
2007), and only its diet and
Image 1. Top (Dorsal) head view of Elachistodon westermanni
9
description is available in the
existing literature (Khaire
2010).
A snake was rescued late
night at around 1100hr in
the garden of a house in
the locality of Shivaji Nagar,
Shegaon, Maharashtra
(2109’43”N & 7904’ 47”E) by
Karan Thakur of Snake Rescue
Volunteers, a local NGO
working in the area of study.
Being unable to identify the
snake on the first instance,
it was decided to keep the
snake for later identification
provisionally being identified
as an ‘Indian Egg Eater’ on
the basis of descriptive photos
given in the Handbook by
Khaire (2010). Till then the
snake was kept in a plastic
translucent box with holes on
the lid and adequate hiding
was provided. The snake
was measured, photographed
and the scales counted.
The snake was identified as
Indian Egg Eater Elachistodon
westermanni based on the
holotype descriptions in the
literature (Wall 1913; Gans &
Williams 1954; Rosenberg &
Gans 1976). For confirmation
 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
Table 1. Locality distribution of Elachistodon westermanni.

No. of
Author Period Locality Scalation data
specimens
Dorsal
Ventral Subcaudal
(Midbody)
1 Reinhardt 1863 Rangpur, Bangladesh 15 217 59 paired 1 (Holotype)
65 fide
Blandford,
2 Blandford 1875 Purnea, Bihar, India 15 208 1
63 fide wall
(1913)
Near Mal, Jalpaiguri district,
3 Wall 1913 15 213 62 1
West Bengal, India

4 Rosenberg & Gans 1976 Rapti Dun, Chitwan, Nepal Not noted 210 58 1

5 Captain, A. et al. 2005 Wardha, Maharashtra, India 15 213 68 1

Amravati, Maharashtra, 13 (7 live + 6

6 Nande et al. 2007 15 214 69
India dead)
Raju Vyas (Photographic 4 (3 live + 1
7 2006-07 Gujarat Not noted Not noted Not noted
records) dead)

8 Balu Deshmukh Unpublished Akola, Maharashtra Not noted Not noted Not noted 2

9 Gajendra Surkar Unpublished Wardha Not noted Not noted Not noted 2

Abhishek Narayanan (Current Shegaon, Maharashtra,

10 2010 15 210 56 1
Work) India

the data was sent to Gerard
Martin, Bangalore, Varad
Giri, Mumbai, and Ashok
Captain, Pune. The snake
was released in the presence
of forest officials as it is under
Schedule I of the Wildlife
Protection (Act) 1972, Traffic
India (2010) in the forested
areas close to the rescued
location bearing similarities
in the habitat.
The detailed description,
scale counts and other
measurements are tabulated
(Table 2).
neck becoming white specks
from about mid-body (Image
2). There is a continuous
vertebral yellow band which
is prominent till anterior
1/3rd of the body becoming
discontinuous towards the
head. Tail is long and shows
prehensile ability. The
head portion is narrow and
indistinct from the neck with
Image 2. Lateral view showing head scales of Elachistodon westermanni
small eyes and vertical pupils
and a distinct oblique post-
ocular streak. Frontal and
parietal scales show black
coloration over the brown
ground color 95 and 75 %
respectively and form a cross
like pattern starting from the
internasals to the nape of
the neck. Horizontal black
band starts post ocular and

Morphological characters
The specimen has an overall
coloration as brown/tan with
darker gradient towards the
cephalic (head) end (Image
1). The underbelly is white
in appearance beginning
from about two dorsal scales
adjacent to the ventral
scales. Dorsally zigzag white
cross bands start from the
 
10
Table 2. Scalation data of Elachistodon westermanni its neck and lift its upper
Scalation pattern body off the ground ready
Number of ventrals 210
to strike (characteristic ‘S’
Number of subcaudals 56 pairs
shaped position) (Image
Number of dorsals 1 head-length behind the head 19
4). (Like Trinket snakes and
Number of dorsals at the position of the middle ventral 15
cat snakes). But became
Number of dorsals 1 head-length before the tail 19
very calm when handled off
ground.
Head shields
Inference: The snake has
  No. Characters been previously recorded
Mental Single Wider than longer from Man Khettra, Junagarh
Internasals 1 Pair Square and large District; Sasan-Gir and
Prefrontals 1 Pair Narrow and extend up to loreals. Surat in Gujarat followed
Frontal Single Large, bell shaped by Amravati and Wardha
Parietals 1 Pair Largest of all head shields and Liver shaped districts in Maharashtra. This
Anterior temporals 2 Pair Long and slender current record thus fills in the
Posterior temporals 2 Pairs   gap in the distribution from
Nasal / Supranasal- the south-western borders
1 Pair Nasal pit in the center, with post nasal concave
postnasal
Trapezoidal, touches eye, 2nd, 3rd Supralabial, of Gujarat to north-eastern
Loreals 1 Pair
nasal, prefrontal and ocular borders of Maharashtra
Preocular 1 Pair Above loreal and small comprised of Saurashtra
1st touches supra-ocular, parietal and temporal; region, around Vadodara
Postocular 2 Pair
2nd touches temporal, 4.5 Supralabial
Supraocular 1 Pair Narrow, C shaped
District in East Gujarat, South
Supralabials 7 pairs Largest is 7th, Smallest is 1. 3,4 touch eye
Gujarat and entire stretch of
Vidharbha Region. This land is
Infralabials 6 Pairs 3,4,5,6 paired and large

continues to join the central Image 3. Full body view of

vertebral yellow band. Elachistodon westermanni showing
Measurements: Length: the prominent vertebral stripe. Also,
the ‘S’ shaped posture can be seen.
Snout-vent: 620mm; Tail:
98mm; Total: 718mm;
Scalation pattern: (Table 2).

Behavior observations (in

controlled environment)
The snake was rescued at
night, when it was lying on
wet mud motionless outside
in the garden of a house. It
acted aggressively when the
rescuers approached it.
It was able to move on
the ground slowly with a
serpentine (S-Shaped)
movement (Image 3). For
an aggressive display it
has the ability to flatten

11

a semi-arid zone and similar
to the locality descriptions
for the holotypes. With wide
distribution pattern and
habitat variability, this snake
is important to be studied for
adaptation capabilities and
evolutionary changes and
microhabitat preference.
References
Boulenger G.A. (1890).
The Fauna Of British India
including Ceylon and Burma.
Reptilia and Batrachia. Taylor
and Francis, London.
Captain, A., F. Tillack, A.
Gumprecht & P. Dandge
(2005). First record of
Elachistodon westermanni
Reinhardt, 1863 (Serpentes,
Colubridae, Colubrinae)
from Maharashtra State,
India. Russian Journal of
Herpetology 12(2): 121–
123.
Dandge, P. (2007). Food and
feeding habits of Elachistodon
westermanni Reinhardt,
1863. Hamadryad 32: 1.
Image 4. Aggressive threat display by Elachistodon westermanni
Gans, C. & E.E. Williams
(1954). Present knowledge
of the snake Elachistodon
westermanni Reinhardt 1863.
Brevoria 36: 1–17.
Khaire, N. (2010). Snakes.
Jyotsna Prakashan, Pune,
63pp.
Murthy, T.S.N., D.P Sanyal
& B. Duttagupta (1993).
Rare snakes of India. The
Snake 25: 135–140.
Nande, R. & S. Deshmukh
(2007). Snakes of Amravati
District including Melghat,
Maharashtra with important
records of the Indian Egg-
Eater, Montane Trinket Snake
and Indian Smooth Snake.
Zoos’ Print Journal 22(12):
2920–2924.
Rosenberg, H.I. & C. Gans
(1976). Lateral jaw muscles
of Elachistodon westermanni
Reinhardt (Reptilia:
Serpentes), Canadian Journal
of Zoology 54(4): 510–521.
Smith, M.A. (1943). The
Fauna of British India, Ceylon
and Burma including the
whole of the Indo-Chinese
Sub-Region. Reptilia and
Amphibia. Vol. III, Serpentes.
12
Taylor and Francis, London,
xii+583pp+1 map.
Traffic India (2010). The
Indian Wildlife (protection)
Act, 1972 (As Amended
upto 2006). Diglot Edition,
Natraj publishers, Dehradun,
289pp.
Vyas, R. (2010). Distribution
of Elachistodon westermanni
in Gujarat. Reptile Rap,
Newsletter of South Asian
Reptile Network 10(June):
7–8.
Wall F. (1913). A rare snake
Elachistodon westermanni
from the Jalpaiguri District.
Journal of the Bombay Natural
History Society 22(2): 400–
401.
Acknowledgement
Heartiest gratitude to
Gerry Martin and Varad Giri
for the constant support and
encouragement. Thanks to
Ashok Captain for timely help
and suggestions on the record.
Karan Thakur and Deepak
Sharma from Snake Rescue
Volunteers, Shegaon for giving
a once in a lifetime opportunity
to see and record this enigmatic
snake.
 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
An observation on death of Python molurus morning of 02 July 2011 we
feeding on a male Spotted Deer Axis axis were on our way to check
the results of a camera trap
Mohnish Kapoor device that we had placed
in the Gara-Amgadi region
University School of Environment Management (USEM), G.G.S.I.P
University, New Delhi 110075, India of the park for monitoring
Email: mohnish1989@yahoo.co.in leopards and tigers. There
was some strange stench

Ecological studies on
python have showed that they
feed on a variety of animals
including frogs, rodents, wild
cats, peafowl and ungulates
like Barking Deer, Chinkara
and Spotted Deer (Daniel
1983)
There have been several
cases where python death
occurred due to movement of
the prey in the gut region due
to suffocation or the body is
pierced by horns and antlers
(Sharma 2004)
We observed one such
Image 1. Python death due to male chital (The body decay is clearly visible)
incidence in the Chilla
range of Rajaji National
Park, Uttarakhand in July the mentioned study area in the area and following
2011. I was working on a under the supervision of the source of the smell, we
summer training project on Dr. Bivash Pandav (Wildife observed a pair of antlers
monitoring of mammals in Institute of India). On the in the nearby bushes. On
moving closer to the site we
Image 2. The image shows the antler and the jaw of the deer seen saw a dead python, with an
peeking out of the decaying carcass of the python approximate length of 3.5–
4 m and a dead adult male
Spotted Deer (Image 1). The
male Spotted Deer had been
killed by the python, but was
swallowed partially till the
neck region (Images 2–3).
The antler and the jaw bones
of the Spotted Deer could be
seen as they had pierced the
body (posterior oral region)
of the python.
We suspect that the python
must have tried to swallow its
prey, but maybe as a result of

 
13
 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
a sudden sideways movement
to facilitate swallowing or
a sudden injury by the rock
present beside the body of
the python, the antlers and
the jaws must have pierced
through the body (Image 4).
The oral cavity of the python
was left wide open as the head
region of the deer was found
entangled in the oral region
of the python (Image 5). The
incident must be a day or two
old as beetles and flies had
already started scavenging
Image 3. Lateral view of the incident and decay of several body
  parts was prominent.

References

Daniel, J.C. (1983). The Book

of Indian Reptiles. Oxford
University Press, 141pp.
Sharma, S. (2004). An
observation on suspected
death of Indian Rock Python
(Python molurus molurus)
because of Jungle Cat.
Reptile Rap Newsletter
6(September): 1.

Acknowledgements
I thank my field assistant
Imam, who was also present at
Image 4. The length of the dead python indicating that it is a large full
grown adult the site of the incidence. I convey
  sincere regards to the forest
my
department of Uttarakhand,
Dr. Bivash Pandav and Abishek
Harihar for their kind support.

Image 5. Close up view of the

python’s head, the jaws are
spread apart as it has tried to
swallow the prey and the rock
present adjacent to the head of
the python.

 
14

Herpetofauna of the Vidyanagari campus of
the University of Mumbai, Maharashtra
Madhav V. Upadhye 1, Vinayak V. Puranik 2, Prasad
Dabholkar 2 & Ujwala Jadhav 3
1,3
Department of Life Sciences, University of Mumbai, Santacruz (E),
Mumbai, Maharashtra 400098, India
2
People for Animals (Mumbai), Parmar Guruji Marg, Parel, Mumbai,
Maharashtra 400012, India
Email: madhavupadhye@gmail.com (corresponding author)
Mumbai (formerly known as
Bombay), considered to be the
economical capital of India, is a
unique city where two kinds of
jungles – a concrete jungle and
a real forest co-exist with each
other. Despite the increasing
habitat destruction resulting
from mounting population in
the city of Mumbai, it still has
rich biodiversity. Mumbai’s
biodiversity is a product of
confluence of Arabian Sea
to the west and the Western
Ghats to the east.
Vidyanagari campus
of University of Mumbai
(19004’18.5”N & 72051’21.5”E)
is situated at Kalina, Santacruz
which is a central suburb of
Mumbai City having an area
of 230 acres. In spite of the
number of development and
construction activities going on
in the University campus, it still
possesses a good vegetation
cover providing habitat for a
variety of fauna. Although a
few attempts have been made
by Jadhav et al. (2007) and
Upadhye et al. (2008) to study
floral and avifaunal diversity
of the campus, respectively,
there is absolutely no scientific
report focusing exclusively
on herpetofaunal diversity
of the campus. Considering
the ecological importance of
REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
herpetofauna, the present
study was undertaken.
Methods
The study was carried
out for a total duration of
24 months from May 2008
to April 2010. Amphibians
and reptiles encountered
during extensive field trips
were captured, photographed
(whenever possible) and
carefully identified with the
help of field guides (Daniel,
1983; Das 2002; Whitaker &
Captain 2004) before release.
Snakes were identified using
scale count as described by
Smith (1943) and Daniel
(1983). Nomenclature
adopted here is as given by
Das (1994) and Dutta (1997)
for reptiles and amphibians,
respectively. Venomous snakes
were released away from the
human settlements at the
Table 1. Systematic List of amphibians of the Mumbai University
campus
Family Common Name
Common Indian Toad
Bufonidae
Marbled Toad
Microhylidae Narrow-mouthed Frog
Indian Cricket Frog
Dicroglossidae Skittering Frog
Indian Bull Frog
15
outskirts of the campus where
there is vast, unused land with
thick vegetation. Record of
specimens killed under vehicles
and by humans was also made.
The status of each species was
observed in four categories
on the basis of total number
of each species encountered
or sighted during the entire
survey. The category values
were: rare (1–4), uncommon
(5–14), common (15–29) and
abundant (greater than 29).
Results
Amphibians: Six species of
amphibians were recorded at
the campus during the study
period. Only three specimens
of Narrow-mouthed Frog were
spotted during the study while
the Common Indian Toad
Duttaphrynus melanostictus
and Skittering Frog Euphlyctis
cyanophlyctis were abundantly
seen and remaining three
species of amphibians (one
species of toad and two of
frogs) were common (Table
1). The Common Indian
Toads were frequently found
hiding under the platforms in
classrooms.
Reptiles: The status of
the 21 species of reptiles
belonging to 17 genera and
Scientific name Status
Duttaphrynus melanostictus Abundant
Duttaphrynus stomaticus Common
Microhyla ornata Rare
Fejervarva limnocharis Common
Euphlyctis cyclophlyctis Abundant
Hoplobatrachus tigerinus Common
 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
eight families recorded from campus while the Bark Gecko specimens of Indian Flapshell
Mumbai University campus is Hemidactylus leschenaulti Turtle Lissemys punctata
provided in Table 2. was rarely spotted. Common were rescued from the road
Five species of the family skinks or Keeled Grass bordering the vast marshy
Gekkonidae, two species Skinks Eutropis carinata were wetlands in the monsoon,
of Agamidae and a species observed in great numbers which may have come
of Scincidae lizards were especially in early mornings accidentally onto the road (on
observed at the campus. under the rocks and leaf litter. land) for laying eggs. They
Northern House, Northern A specimen was rescued from were released safely back into
Spotted Geckos and Southern a classroom located on the the adjacent riverine habitat.
House Geckos along with third floor of the Department Among the 12 species
Indian Garden Lizard were of Life Sciences. of snakes recorded on the
observed in abundance at the Two gravid female campus, nine were found to
belong to the family Colubridae,
out of which only one was
Table 2. Systematic List of reptiles of the Mumbai University campus
semi-venomous and the rest
were non-venomous. Rat
Family Common name Scientific name Status Snake, Checkered Keelback
Trionychidae
Indian Flapshell Turtle
Lissemys punctata Rare and Buff-striped Keelback
(Image 1)
were seen abundantly on
Northern House Gecko
(Yellow-green House Hemidactylus flaviviridis Abundant
the campus. Buff-striped
Gecko) Keelbacks were seen in great
Southern House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus Abundant numbers in monsoon season
Gekkonidae
Brook’s House Gecko Hemidactylus brookii Common as they gathered for mating.
Rock or Northern
Hemidactylus maculates Abundant
Checkered Keelbacks were
Spotted Gecko
sighted near the pond and
Bark Gecko Hemidactylus leschenaulti Rare
in the canals of the campus,
Indian Garden Lizard
(Image 2)
Calotes versicolor Abundant mainly near water resources.
Agamidae
Fan-throated Lizard Sitana ponticeriana Common Couple of road-killed specimens
Common Skink (Image of Checkered Keelbacks were
Scincidae Eutropis carinata Abundant
3) seen. A number of non-
Common Sand Boa
Boidae
(Image 4)
Gongylophis conicus* Common venomous Rat Snakes were
Common Vine Snake rescued from the academic
Ahaetulla nasutus* Rare
(Image 5) buildings during the study
Buff-striped Keelback Amphiesma stolata* Abundant
and released. The longest
Checkered Keelback
(Image 6)
Xenochropis piscator* Abundant specimen measured just over
Rat Snake (Image 7) Ptyas mucosus* Abundant 2.4m. Rat Snakes were also
Green Keelback (Image found to be killed by grass
Macropisthodon plumbicolor* Uncommon
Colubridae 8) cutters in the campus as these
Common Wolf Snake
(Image 9)
Lycodon aulicus* Common are commonly mistaken for the
Banded Racer (Image venomous Spectacled Cobra.
Argyrogena fasciolatus* Uncommon
10) Even though, two of the big
Common Bronze-back
Tree Snake (Image 11)
Dendrelaphis tristis* Rare fours in India—Russell’s’ Viper
Banded Kukri Snake and Spectacled Cobra—were
Oligodon arnensis* Common
(Image 12) found to be quite common at
Spectacled Cobra
Elapidae
(Image 13)
Naja naja** Common the campus, fortunately no
Indian Russell’s Viper human bite cases have been
Viperidae Daboia russelii ** Common
(Image 14) recorded.
* - Non-venomous; ** - Venomous

16
 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
© Madhav Upadhye Image 1. Indian Flapshell Turlte © Atmaj Rane

Image 3. Common Skink

Image 2. Indian Garden Lizard

Discussion
The present results indicate
that Vidyanagari campus
of Mumbai University is
considerably richer in terms
of its herpetofaunal diversity
© Atmaj Rane when compared to obser-
vationsmade by Wadatkar
Image 4. Common Sand Boa
(2004) in the campus of
University of Amravati. The
investigator reported 12
species of snakes, two species
of geckos, three species of
skinks and one species of
Calotes in his study. These
observations are significantly
important when considering
the fact that unlike that of
Vidyanagari campus of Mumbai
University the Amravati
University campus is covered
by hilly forested area and
© Vinayak Puranik

17
© Vinayak Puranik Image 5. Common Vine Snake

therefore, ideally expected

to be richer in herpetofauna.
However, Bengal Monitor
Varanus bengalensis which
was reported to be common at
Amravati campus was found
to be totally absent at Mumbai
University campus.
The significance of
herpetofauna in ecology needs
Image 6. Checkered Keelback
no emphasis. The insect
populations are regulated by
amphibians such as toads and
frogs along with reptiles like
lizards and skinks. Snakes are
of tremendous importance in
the food chain as they keep
the population of rats and
mice under check.
Nowadays, biodiversity in
urban areas is threatened by
urbanization, pollution, habitat
destruction, climate change,
introduction of alien species
and extinction cascade where
extinction of one species
causes extinction of other
(Jadhav et al. 2007). The
rich herpetofaunal diversity
observed in the present
survey could be attributed to
the suitable habitats such as
© Vinayak Puranik gardens, marshy wetlands,
grasslands, ponds, canals and
to the presence of variety of
plant types like herbs, shrubs,
trees, bamboos etc. (over
292 plant species: Jadhav
et al. 2007) in the University
campus providing shelter
Image 7. Rat Snake and food for a vast array of
species. The need for green
spaces like Vidyanagari
campus which provides a
safe haven for various species
cannot be overemphasized.
The present study which
is the first ever study of
herpetofauna of the campus,

© Vinayak Puranik
 © Vinayak Puranik
Image 8 .Green Keelback

REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012

Image 9. Common Wolf Snake

© Vinayak Puranik

Image 10. Banded Racer

is hoped to be useful for the
scientific community, students
and to the teaching and non-
teaching staff of the campus to
add to the present knowledge.
Awareness lectures are being
arranged at the campus
for a better consciousness
about herpetofauna and for
requesting people not to
kill herpetofauna, especially
snakes.

References

Daniel, J.C. (1983). The Book

of Indian Reptiles. Bombay
Natural History Society,
© Vinayak Puranik

Image 11. Common Bronze-back Tree Snake Image 12. Banded Kukri Snake

© Vinayak Puranik © Vinayak Puranik


Image 13. Specktacled Cobra
© Vinayak Puranik
Image 14. Russell’s Viper
Mumbai, India, 238pp.
Das, I. (1994). The reptiles
of South Asia: checklist,
REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
© Vinayak Puranik
distribution and summary.
Hamadryad 19: 15–40.
Das, I. (2002). A Photographic
20
Guide to Snakes and Other
Reptiles of India. New Holland
Publishers, UK, 144pp.
Dutta, S.K. (1997). Amphibians
of India and Sri Lanka
(Checklist and Bibliography).
Odyssey Publication House,
Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India,
342pp.
Jadhav, U., M.V. Upadhye,
A.Y. Utekar, A. Deshmane,
C.A. Thomas & R.C. Patil
(2007). Biodiversity studies
of Vidyanagari Campus of
Mumbai University, pp. 19–24.
In: Vishwakarma, K.S. (ed.).
EnvironmentalDegradationand
Management - Vol. III. Society
for Science and Environment,
Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India.
Smith, M.A. (1943). Fauna
of British India, Ceylon and
Burma - Reptiles and Amphibia,
Vol. III Serpentes. Taylor and
Francis, London, 583pp.
Upadhye, M.V., U. Jadhav, A.Y.
Utekar & R.C. Patil (2008).
Avifauna of Mumbai University
Campus. Ecology, Environment
and Conservation 14(2&3):
461–464.
Wadatkar, J.S. (2004).
Herpetofauna of the
Amravati University Campus,
Maharashtra. Zoos’ Print
Journal 19(2): 1381–1382.
Whitaker, R. & A. Captain
(2004). Snakes of India:
The Field Guide. Draco Books,
Chennai, India, 481pp.
Acknowledgment
Authors would like to express
their sincere thanks to Prof. S.
V. Deshmukh, former Head,
University Department of Life
Sciences for his cooperation
and encouragement. Thanks
are also due to Varun Torsekar,
Research Scholar, Indian Institute
of Sciences, Bangalore for his
support.
 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
Herpetofaunal diversity in and around the view to prepare an inventory
selected man-made wetlands of central and of biodiversity, especially
northern Gujarat, India herpetofauna found in and
around the man-made water
Raju Vyas 1, B.M. Parasharya 2 & J.J. Jani 3 bodies. We have also tried to
assess the true significance of
1
505, Krishnadeep Tower, Mission Road, Fatehgunj, Vadodara, Gujarat
390002, India the water bodies other than
2
AINP on Agricultural Ornithology, 3 AICRP on Biological Control of Crop the agricultural importance.
Pests and Weeds, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat 388110,
India
Email: 1 razoovyas@hotmail.com (corresponding author), Objectives
2
parasharya@yahoo.com, 3 janchait01@yahoo.com
The study was carried out
with the following objectives,
Water is the fundamental the aquatic environment (i) To collect the base line
need of all living organisms. and developmental needs information of reptiles and
Without water, life is is becoming critical in many amphibians in and around
impossible. Depending on of the world’s river basins, the water bodies, (ii) To study
the type of wetland, many India being no exception the status of herpetofauna
species of life forms i.e. high (WII 2010). from these areas, (iii) To
biological diversity is found in To fulfill our basic needs know the importance of such
and around them. Wetlands and requirements, we develop kind of water bodies from
are classified on the basis or construct a new water the viewpoint of biodiversity
of quality and quantity of body, either as a dam on conservation, (iv) To suggest
the water. The lack of easy river systems, or as rainwater multipurpose management
availability of this liquid gold collected in artificial earthen for versatile use without the
i.e. water, either in terms depressions or by creating violation of original objectives
of quality or the quantity or water reservoirs or by other and purpose of the water
both parameters, has led us alternatives like the use of bodies.
(human beings) to search ground water by constructing
other alternatives to fulfill wells, hand pumps and other Study area
our water requirements. such extraction mechanisms. There are various
Presently, it has been noted Such kind of man-made sizes of man-made water
that the species diversity of water bodies are the results bodies available in various
inland water ecosystems is of alteration of a large area of biodiversity zones.
most threatened and in many habitat; either the forestlands It is also found that they
parts of the world, it is in or scrublands getting are either surrounded with
continuous and accelerating submerged in water. These agricultural fields or share
decline (MEA 2006). In India, kinds of water bodies support boundaries with protected
as elsewhere in the world, many types of biodiversity. areas of the state. Therefore,
freshwater and freshwater- We know the irrigation and the study was conducted in
dependent ecosystems agricultural values, but are five man-made water bodies,
provide a range of ecological still ignorant about the types namely: (i) Hathmati dam,
services for humans like of biodiversity actually/ (ii) Dantiwada dam, (iii) Deo
drinking water, fish, flood directly supported by such dam, (iv) Kanewal water tank
protection and wildlife kind of man-made water and (v) Pariej water tank
(Postel 1998; Revenga & bodies. (Fig. 1).
Kura 2003). As population Therefore, we explored The first three water
and associated water five representative man- bodies are “dam” type water
demands increase, balancing made water bodies in central bodies and are built on river
the requirement between and northern Gujarat, with a systems, namely Hathmati

21

Figure 1. The location site of five man-made water bodies in Gujarat State
River, Banas River and Dev-
Dhadhar River, respectively
and the remaining two water
bodies; Kanewal and Pariej
are “water tank” type water
bodies and are filled by the
waters of Mahi and Narmada
irrigation canals of Vanakbori
Dam and Sardar Sarovar
(Narmada Dam). First
three water bodies are for
irrigation purpose, whereas
the waters of Kanewal and
Pariej water tanks are utilized
for irrigational purpose
and as drinking water by
the surrounding towns and
villages. The topographic,
salient features and other
REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
relevant details of the water
bodies are mentioned in
Table 1.
Methods
All these five water bodies
were surveyed in various
seasons, during 2004 and
2005. A total of 30 field days
were spent for the study,
to find out the estimate of
species of amphibian and
reptiles surviving in and
around these water bodies.
This is considering the area
around the water body
as ‘500m area from the
demarcation of high water
marks of the particular water
22
body’.
Each one of the identified
water bodies was surveyed
through a rapid survey and
various potential areas were
selected surrounding the
water bodies for the aspect
of availability of amphibians
and reptilian species. These
habitats were intensively
explored (especially
microhabitats) through
repeated visits in various
seasons.
During the study, all the
important species have been
documented through the
colored photographs and as
and when close examination
was required, the animals
were caught with various
known methods of catching
amphibians and reptiles.
All caught animals were
released in the same habitat
after recording the necessary
data.
All collected specimens
were examined and carefully
identified by using the
diagnostic keys, given by
Smith (1935, 1943) and
Daniel (1963a, 1963b and
1975) & Daniels (1997) and
nomenclatures adopted here
are those of Das (1994 &
2003), Dutta (1997) and Frost
et al. (2006) for reptiles and
amphibians, respectively.
Field surveys: (a) visual
encounter surveys, (b)
watching aquatic reptilian
species through the field
binoculars (10x50), and
(c) recording the species
through indirect evidences
like shell, molt/moult
and sound. In addition,
secondary information was
 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
Table 1. Salient features of the water bodies from study area at Gujarat State, India

Hathmati Dantiwada Deo Pariej Kanewal

Location: nearer Fatepur Dantiwada, Kuberpura Tarapur, Tarapur,
village & District Sabarkantha Banaskantha Panchmahal Anand Anand
23042’N & 24010’N & 22022’N & 22033’N & 22028’N &
Latitude & Longitude
73013’E 72029’E 73033’E 72038’E 72032’E
Present Purpose Irrigation & Flood Irrigation & Irrigation & Irrigation &
Irrigation
of water body control Flood control Drinking Drinking
Water body located on Mahi Right Bank Mahi Right Bank
Hathmati Banas Deo
River Canal Canal
Area of catchment 595km2 2862km2 259km2 -- --
Area at full reservoir
32.36km2 40.47km2 16.68km2 --- --
level
Area under
3750ha 4050ha 1868ha 445ha 625ha
submergence
No. of villages under
14 partial & 6 full 12 partial 11 partial & 9 full ---- 6
submergence

gathered from local people
of surrounding villages,
staff of forest department
and irrigation department.
Other wildlife enthusiasts
were also inquired about the
presence of different species
of amphibians and reptiles by
showing the colour pictures
of the species.
Results and Discussion
During the study period,
we were able to collect
information about the
Deo dam and the lowest amphibians (one species
number was recorded from of toad and three species
Pariej water tank (Fig. 2). of frogs) and 13 species of
Out of the total 34 species reptiles (one species of turtle,
of amphibians and reptiles, 17 seven species of lizards and
species were recorded from five species of snakes).
all five wetlands, including The Common Indian Tree
four species of anuran- Frog Polypedates maculatus
Table 2. Systematic list of amphibians species recorded in and around
Hathmati dam, Dantiwad dam, Deo dam, Pariej water tank and Kanewal
water tank, Gujarat State, India
Dantiwada

Common name (Scientific name)

Hathmati

Kanewal
availability of nine species
Pariej
Deo

of amphibians belonging to
four families (Table 2) and 25 Bufonidae
species of reptiles belonging
Common Asian Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) P P P P P
to 14 families (Table 3) from
Marbled Toad (Duttaphrynus stomaticus) P P - - -
in and around the earlier
Microhylidae
mentioned five water bodies
Ornate Narrow-mouthed Frog (Microhyla ornata) P P P P
of Gujarat State. Of which,
Marbled Balloon Frog (Uperodon systoma) - P P - -
nine species are toads and
Dicroglossidae
frogs, one species of crocodile,
Indian Skipping Frog (Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis) P P P P P
two species of turtles, twelve
species of lizards and ten Indian Bull Frog (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus) P P P P P

species of snakes. The record Cricket Frog (Fejervarya limnocheris) P P P P P

of availability of herpetofauna Short-headed Burrowing Frog (Sphaerotheca breviceps) P P P - P

at each water body shows Rhacophoridae

that the highest number of Indian Tree Frog (Polypedates maculatus) - - P - -
amphibians and reptilian Total Species 7 8 8 4 6
species were recorded from P - presence of species

23
 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
35 on their periphery and are
Family Genus Species
surrounded by agricultural
30
fields. These two wetlands
are far away from the forests
25
and protected areas.
Here, we come across a
20
valuable suggestion after the
present study that Gujarat
15
State has over 300 man-
made water bodies ranging
10
from small to large sizes. The
concerned criteria for further
5
actions should not only be the
utility of the water and the
0
Hathmati Dantiwada Pariej Water Kanewal Water size of these reservoirs but
Dam Deo Dam Tank Tank
Dam also the overall biodiversity
Figure 2. The pictograph of herpetofanal diversity at five man-made water
bodies of Gujarat State, India
existent in and around the
water body. Our experience
with the department of
and Crocodile Mugger tanks because both the irrigation suggests that they
Crocodylus palustris were wetlands are situated on the consider a solitary point of
recorded only at Deo dam, plains with earthen bunds view and that point is the
while Lacertidae lizards
Snake-eyed Lacerta Ophisops
jerdonii and Indian Fringe-
toed Lizard Acanthodactylus
cantoris were found only
at Dantiwada dam. The
Common Indian Wolf Snake
Lycodon aulicus was recorded
at Kanewal water tank only.
Present study indicates a
good amphibian and reptilian
diversity supported by man-
made water bodies. The
amphibian and reptilian
diversity is dependant on the
surrounding habitat of these
water bodies. The highest
diversity was recorded at
Deo and Dantiwada dams
because both the water
bodies are situated very
close to the protected areas
and in river basin areas
which included agricultural
fields also. Whereas, lower
diversity was recorded at Image 1. One of the commonly sighted skink in the study area; Common Keeled
Kanewal and Pariej water Grass Skink Eutrophis carinata

24
 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
Table 3. Systematic list of reptilian species recorded in and around five man-made water bodies of Gujarat
State, India

Common name (Scientific name) Hathmati Dantiwada Deo Pariej Kanewal

Crocodildae
1 Mugger (Crocodylus palustris) -* - P - -
Trinychidae
2 Indian Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia gangeticus) - P P - -
3 Indian Flapshell Turtle (Lissemys punctata) P P P P P
Gekkonidae
4 Brook’s House Gecko (Hemidactylus brookii) P P P P P
5 Yellow-green House Gecko (Hemidactylus flaviviridis) P P P P P
6 Bark Gecko (Hemidactylus leschenultii) - P P - -
Agamidae
7 Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor) P P P P P
8 Fan-throated Lizard (Sitana ponticeriana) P P P P P
Chamaeleonidae
9 Indian Chamaeleon (Chamaeleo zeylanicus) - P P - -
Scincidae
10 Spotted Supple Skink (Lygosoma puncatus) P P P - -
11 Common Keeled Grass Skink (Eutrophis carinata) (Image 1) P P P P P
12 Striped Grass Skink (Eutrophis macularius) P P P P P
Lacertidae
13 Snake-eyed Lacerta (Ophisops jerdonii) - P - - -
14 Indian Fringe-toed Lizard (Acanthodactylus cantoris) - P - - -
Varanidae
15 Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis) P P P P P
Typhlopidae
16 Brahminy Worm Snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus) P P P P P
Boidae
17 Common Sand Boa (Gangylophis conica) P P P
18 Common Red Sand Boa (Eryx johnii) P P P P
Pythonidae
19 Indian Rock Python (Python molurus) Report P P
Colubridae
20 Common Wolf Snake (Lycodon aulicus) P
21 Indian Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosus) P P P P P
22 Checkered keel-back Water Snake (Xenochrophis piscator) P P P P P
Elapidae
23 Spectacled Cobra (Naja naja) P P P P
Viperidae
24 Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus) P P P P P
25 Russell’s Viper (Daboia russelii) P
Total 15 22 22 14 15

P - presence; * - past record

25

agricultural requirement for
the management of man-
made water bodies.
References
Daniel, J.C. (1963a). Field
guide to amphibian of western
India. Part-I. Journal of the
Bombay Natural History
Society 60: 415–438.
Daniel, J.C. (1963b). Field
guide to amphibian of western
India. Part-II. Journal of
the Bombay Natural History
Society 60: 690–702.
Daniel, J.C. (1975). Field guide
to amphibian of western
India. Part-III. Journal of
the Bombay Natural History
Society 72: 506–522.
Daniels, R.J.R. (1997). A field
guide to the frog and toads
of the Western Ghats, India.
Part I, II and III. Cobra (27 to
29): 1–25, 1–24 and 1–13.
Das, I. (1994). The reptiles
of South Asia: checklist
and distribution summery.
Hamadryad 19:15–40.
Das, I. (2003). Growth of
knowledge on the Reptiles of
India, with an introduction to
REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
systematic, taxonomy and
nomenclature. Journal of
the Bombay Natural History
Society 100 (2&3): 446–
501.
Dutta, S.K. (1997). Amphibians
of India and Sri Lanka
(checklist and bibliography).
Odyssey Publication House,
Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India.
342pp.
Frost, D.R., T. Grant, J.
Faivovich, R.H. Bain, A.
Haas, C.F.B. Haddad,
R.O. Desa, Channing, M.
Wilkinson, S.C. Donnellan,
C.J. Raxworthy, J.A.
Campbell, B.L. Blotto, P.
Moler, R.C. Drewes, R.A.
Nussbaum, J.D. Lynch,
D.M. Green & W.C. Wheeler
(2006). The amphibian
tree of life. Bulletin of the
American Museum of Natural
History (297): 1–370.
MEA (2006). Inland water
systems. Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment
Synthesis Reports.
Washington, D.C.
Postel, S.L. (1998). Water for
food production: will there be
enough in 2015? Bioscience
48: 629-637.
26
Revenga, C. & Y. Kura
(2003). Status and trends
of biodiversity of inland water
ecosystems. Secretariat of
the Convention on Biological
Diversity, Montreal, Technical
Series No. 11.
Smith, M.A. (1935). Fauna
of British India, Reptile &
Amphibian Vol. II. Taylor and
Francis, London, 185pp.
Smith, M.A. (1943). Fauna
of British India, Reptile &
Amphibian Vol. III., Taylor
and Francis, London, 583pp.
WII (2010). Assessment
of ecological impacts of
the proposed lift irrigation
scheme on Chambal River
at Kanera, District Bhind,
Madhya Pradesh. Study
report. Wildlife Institute of
India. Dehradun, 56pp.
Acknowledgements
We are thankful to the Gujarat
State Forest Department for
financial support through an ad
hoc project on the wetlands. We
(BMP and JJJ) are also thankful
to Officer-in-Charge, Biological
Control Research Laboratory,
Anand Agricultural University for
encouragement.
 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
A Malabar Pit Viper, Trimeresurus a morph of T. malabaricus
malabaricus (Jerdon, 1854) morph from the from the semi-evergreen
southern Western Ghats forests of the Vazhachal
Forest Division (10019’48.5”N
Arun Kanagavel 1, Rajkumar Sekar 2, Nikhil Whitaker 3 & 76040’8.4”E) in the Kerala
& Rajeev Raghavan 4 region of Western Ghats.
Conservation Research Group (CRG), St. Albert’s College, Cochin, Kerala
1,2,4 Our sighting was made at
682018, India an elevation of 694m, and
3
Centre for Herpetology/Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Mamallapuram,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu 603104, India
the viper was found resting
4
Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), University of Kent, on a dry twig, 9cm from the
Canterbury, CT2 7NR, United Kingdom. forest floor, with relatively
Email: 1 arun.kanagavel@gmail.com (corresponding author), 2 raajkumar_
seker@yahoo.com, 3 nikhil.whitaker@gmail.com, 4 rajeevraq@hotmail.com little undergrowth, beside
a forest path at 1650hr on
15th January 2011. The
The Malabar Pit Viper, 2008; Sawant et al. 2010). specimen was orange yellow
Trimeresurus malabaricus Being polymorphic, the basic in color and was without the
(Jerdon, 1854) is a medium- colour profile of a Malabar Pit typical brown or black spots
sized snake, endemic to the Viper varies between green, on the body, characteristic of
tropical rainforests of the olive, brown, yellow, blue, the other morphs (Whitaker
Western Ghats occurring reddish-brown and maroon, & Captain 2008). In this
between 123m and 2134m speckled with black and specimen, the prominent
above sea level on bushes, brown spots which may form spots were replaced by a
trees and rocks, often in a zigzag pattern (Whitaker & darker orange tone forming
close proximity to forest Captain 2008). In this note a zigzag pattern identical to
streams (Whitaker & Captain we describe the sighting of the other variations. The

Image 1. The Malabar Pit Viper morph from Vazhachal Forest Division reported here

© Arun Kanagavel
Image 2. The common Malabar Pit Viper morph from Vazhachal Forest Division
REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
© Arun Kanagavel
coloration on the head was
uniform and without the
usual speckled appearance
(Images 1 & 2). The
individual was identified as
T. malabaricus by its large
and distinct triangular head,
weak keels on dorsal scales,
19 dorsal scales at mid-
body,  nine supralabials and
11 infralabials.
Many vipers in India
like the Saw-scaled Viper
Echis carinatus, Hump-
nosed Pit Viper Hypnale
hypnale, Cantor’s Pit Viper
Trimeresurus cantor, and
Malabar Pit Viper exhibit
polymorphism (Whitaker &
Captain 2008). The reason
for polymorphism, however,
has not been investigated
in any of these species. Pit
vipers from the Goa region
of the Western Ghats have
been suggested to be habitat
specific, their distribution
being affected by seasonal
changes in temperature
and humidity (Sawant et al.
2010). If this distribution is
unaffected by detectability of
the species due to seasonal
difference, polymorphism
exhibited by the Malabar
Pit Viper may not be due to
thermoregulation but rather
for camouflage. Additional
factors such as locality (see
Kark et al. 1997) and wider
habitat use (Sawant et al.
2010) may also influence
polymorphism.
References
Kark, S., I. Warburg &
Y.L. Werner (1997).
Polymorphism in the snake
Psammophis schokari on
both sides of the desert edge
28
in Israel and Sinai. Journal of
Arid Environments 37: 513–
527.
Sawant, N.S., T.D. Jadhav
& S.K. Shyama (2010).
Distribution and abundance
of pit vipers (Reptilia:
Viperidae) along the Western
Ghats of Goa, India. Journal
of Threatened Taxa 2(10):
1199–1204.
Whitaker, R. & A. Captain
(2008). Snakes of India -
The Field Guide. Draco Books,
Chennai, 385pp.
Acknowledgements
The first author would like
to thank Romulus Whitaker
for confirming the identity of
the specimen, the Zoological
Society of London for financial
support under the Erasmus
Barlow Expedition Grant and
the Department of Forest and
Wildlife, Government of Kerala
for the research permits (WL12-
7326/2010).
 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
Sightings of King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah in the northern coastal
in northern coastal Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh region
(18012’10.83” & 83004’30.95”
K.L.N. Murthy 1 & K.V. Ramana Murthy 2 to 18048’38.31”N &
83 48’52.44”N
0
approxima-
1
Biologist, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
530040, India tely) over the last few years
2
Executive Director, Green Mercy, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India (Image 1). Two large male
Email: 1 klnmurthy25@gmail.com, 2 green333mercy@gmail.com
King Cobras were even killed
by locals on two separate
The King Cobra 2002; Leviton et al. 2003). occasions in this region which
Ophiophagus hannah Cantor, The King Cobra is listed encompasses three districts
1836, is the largest venomous under Schedule II of the of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram
snake in the world, reaching Indian Wildlife (Protection) and Visakhapatnam
to a length of up to 5.85m Act, 1972; Appendix II of respectively. A 4.26m long
(Aagaard 1924). Although CITES; and in the Vulnerable male King Cobra (Images
not a common snake, the category by IUCN (2010) 2 & 3) was spotted dead
species has a wide distribution which also recommends by volunteers of Green
(David & Vogel 1996). This research into, and monitoring Mercy (an NGO working
monotypic genus of the of the population status of for wildlife conservation in
family Elapidae is considered this species to gain a better the three districts) on 28th
as a species complex by Das understanding of how the July 2009, at Sitampeta
(2002), as the species varies population responds to forest area 18040’33.96”N &
in coloration, scalation and threats and conservation. 83048’27.11”E in Srikakulam
body proportion throughout In the present paper, (Murthy & Murthy 2010).
its range. we report the sightings The dead King Cobra weighed
In India, the distribution of Ophiophagus hannah about 6.5kg and as the
range of the species is from different locations specimen was decomposing
recorded as Western Ghats,
Uttar Pradesh (Terai),
Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal,
northeastern India and
also the Andaman Islands
(Whitaker & Captain 2004).
In its distributional range,
the species is recorded from
various habitat types such
as lowland, wet tropical
forest, coastal rainforest,
tropical and subtropical wet
montane forest, dry forest,
swamps and marshes, open
scrubland, plantation and
cultivated areas, alluvial and
terai grassland, mangrove
swamps, open country and
disturbed areas, and near
human habitations (Narayan
& Rosalind 1989; David & Image 1. Different locations where sightings of Ophiophagus hannah were
Vogel 1996; Selich & Këstle reported between 2006–2010 (Map Source: Google Earth 2011)

29

Image 2. Dead Ophiophagus hannah specimen
Image3. Dorsal View of the head preserved at Science college in Srikakulam.
fast, it was carried to a nearby
science college and preserved
in 10% formalin solution.
On enquiring, it was learnt
that the snake was killed
by people from surrounding
villages. In another incident,
a 3.84m long male King Cobra
weighing 5.7kg was stoned
to death by locals (Images
4 & 5) at Kapusompuram,
REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
a small village near S. Kota
Town 18006’57.67”N & mandal of Srikakulam District
83 04’35.23”E. This incident
0
took place on 30 October
2010. King Cobras have
been sighted here by locals,
forest department personnel
and members of Green Mercy
Organization in the recent
past.
The geographic region of
30
north Coastal Andhra has
varied habitats ranging from
coasts to dry, thorny, scrub
to dry, deciduous forests and
sal forests. Small pockets of
semi-evergreen and moist
deciduous forests do exist in
Makkuva, Duggeru and Salur
forest blocks of Vizianagaram
Division. This division
occupies a very strategic
position owing to the fact that
many wild animals including
elephants wander into this
district from the adjacent
state of Orissa on a regular
basis. There are unconfirmed
occasional sightings of King
Cobras by locals from this
region and also few other
locations in Srikakulam and
Visakhapatnam divisions as
well. Direct evidence like
actual sightings, killings by
humans as well as indirect
evidence in the form of shed
skins, skeletal remains,
tracks, and deserted leaf
nests clearly suggests the
occurrence of the species in
this region. Furthermore,
there have been reports in
the local electronic and print
media about sightings and
killings of King Cobras with
visuals. The species was
also sighted by locals near
Sunnapu Gedda Waterfalls
in the adjoining Sitampet
which lies at Andhra-Orissa
border (K.V. Ramana Murthy,
Green Mercy, 25-08-2010
pers. comm. ).
There is an apparent dearth
of information regarding the
exact distributional status
of the species in northern
coastal Andhra Pradesh due

Image 4. Ophiophagus hannah killed by villagers near S.Kota Town.
Image 5. Flattened head of Ophiophagus hannah
to paucity of herpetological
surveys. Invariably, it is
a serious impediment for
chalking out conservation
management strategies.
Lack of awareness and
prevalent myths lead to
unnecessary killing of these
majestic serpents. Perhaps,
habitat destruction, poaching
and redundant killings by
locals are taking a heavy toll
on the resident King Cobra
REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
population. Developing inter-
linking corridors between
forest areas i.e., from S.Kota
– Araku-Salur – Duggeru–
Parvathipuram and Sitampeta
regions could be useful for
the long-term survival of
King Cobra populations in
Andhra Pradesh. Therefore,
we recommend that
immediate intensive surveys
be carried out in all the
three districts of northern
31
Coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Awareness programmes for
local communities should
be carried out to educate
them about the ecological
significance of the species
and their conservation
importance.
References
Aagaard, C.J. (1924). Cobras
and King Cobras. Natural
History Bulletin Siam Society
6: 315-316.
David, P. & G. Vogel (1996).
The Snakes of Sumatra: An
Annotated Checklist and Key
with Natural History Notes.
Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt-
au-Main, Germany, 260pp.
Das, I. (2002). A Photographic
Guide to Snakes and Other
Rep­tiles of India. New Holland
Publishers Ltd., London, UK,
144pp.
IUCN (2010). Ophiophagus
hannah. In: IUCN 2010.
2010 Red List of Threatened
Species. <http://www.
iucnredlist.org/apps/
redlist/details/177540/0>
Downloaded on 27 March
2011.
Leviton, A.E., G.O.U. Wogan,
M.S. Koo, G.R. Zug, R.S.

Lucas & J.V. Vindum
(2003). The dangerously
venomous snakes of
Myanmar. Illustrated checklist
with keys. Proceedings. of
the California Academy of
Sciences 54(2): 407–462.
Murthy K.L.N & K.V. Ramana
Murthy (2010) Dead King
Cobra Ophiophagus hannah
found near Srikakulam
in North Coastal Andhra
Pradesh. Reptile Rap 6: 27-
28.
Narayan, G. & L. Rosalind
(1989). King cobra in
Reptile Rap is registered under
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Unported License, which allows
unrestricted use of articles in any
medium for non-profit purposes,
reproduction and distribution
by providing adequate credit to
the authors and the source of
publication.
OPEN ACCESS | FREE DOWNLOAD
REPTILE RAP is available
online at www.zoosprint.org
REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
grassland; an unusual habitat. Acknowledgements
Journal of the Bombay Natural This self-funded survey is
History Society 87(2): 309. an off-shoot of Green Mercy
Selich, H. & W. Kästle (eds.) Organisation’s Conservation
(2002). Amphibians and Programme to save snake fauna
Reptiles of Nepal. Gantner, in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram
A.R.G. Verlag V.G.,& Ruggell districts. We are grateful to the
(distributed by Koeltz, field staff of Forest Department
Koenigstein, Germany), of all the three districts for their
1201pp+127pls (including vital inputs and members of
374 col. figs). Green Mercy who have been very
Whitaker, R. & A. Captain instrumental in data collection.
(2004). Snakes of India, The We would like to express our
Field Guide. Draco Books, heartfelt thanks to Mr. P. Gowri
Chennai, xiv+481pp. Shankar of Agumbe Rainforest
Research Station for his valuable
inputs on the manuscript.
REPTILE RAP
OPEN ACCESS | FREE DOWNLOAD
Date of publication: 04 June 2012
ISSN: 2230-7079 (online) No. 14 | June 2012
Editor: Sanjay Molur
Editorial Advisor: Sally Walker
SARN Co-chairs: Sanjay Molur & S. Bhupathy
REPTILE RAP is the Newsletter of the South Asian Reptile
Network (SARN).
REPTILE RAP is published by Zoo Outreach Organization
and Conservation Breeding Specialist Group South Asia as a
service to the South Asian reptile conservation community as
well as conservation actioners and enthusiasts at large.
South Asian Reptile Network
c/o Zoo Outreach Organization,
96, Kumudam Nagar, Villankurichi Road,
Coimbatore 641035, Tamil Nadu, India
Ph: +91 422 2665298, 2665101, 2665450
Fax: +91 422 2665472
Email: herpinvert@gmail.com
REPTILE RAP is available online at
www.zoosprint.org/Newsletters/ReptileRap.htm
32

First record of Slender Coral Snake Calliophis
melanurus (Shaw, 1802) south of the
Palghat Gap, Western Ghats
G. Shine 1 & P.O. Nameer 2
1
College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala 680656
India
2
Department of Wildlife Sciences, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural
University, Thrissur, Kerala 680656 India
Email: 1 shinecof@gmail.com, 2 nameerpo@gmail.com
The Kerala Agricultural
University (KAU) main campus
is located at Vellanikkara,
Thrissur District, Kerala
(Fig. 1 & Image 1). The
campus has a total area of
391.44ha having garden
lands, botanical garden,
plantations of Coconut Cocos
nucifera, Rubber Hevea
braziliensis, Arecanut Areca
catechu, Cocoa Theobroma
cacao, Plantain Musa
paradisiaca, and orchards of
Mango Mangifera indica, Jack
Artocarpus heterophyllus,
Sapota Manilkara achras and
Guava Psidium guajava and
Fodder Grasses Pennisetum
pedicellatum. The KAU
campus is very near to the
Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife
Sanctuary, Western Ghats,
the aerial distance of which is
not more than 4–5 km. KAU
campus is located south of
the Palghat Gap.
KAU campus enjoys
a moderate climate. The
main source of atmospheric
precipitation is the south-west
and north-east monsoons.
The greater portion of the
rain is from south-west
monsoon between June and
September. The 10-year
mean minimum temperature
is 23.30C and 10-year mean
REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012
maximum of 31.80C. The
mean annual rainfall is
2763mm. The mean number
of rainy days per year is 110
days (KAU weather station,
2010).
Out of the 275 species of
snakes of India (Whitaker
& Captain 2004), Kerala
has 102 species (Palot &
Radhakrishnan 2011). Family
Elapidae is represented by 17
species in six genera in India,
out of which seven species
in four genera are known
from Kerala. Among the five
species of coral snakes known
to occur in India, four belong
to the genus Calliophis and all
these are found in peninsular
India (Deepak et al. 2010)
Figure 1. Location map of KAU campus, Vellanikkara, Thrissur
33
and all the four species are
known from Kerala too. They
are Calliophis beddomei,
C. bibroni, C. nigrescens
and C. melanurus (Palot &
Radhakrishnan 2011).
Present observation
During the course of
the ongoing herpetological
survey in the KAU campus we
discovered a Slender Coral
Snake Calliophis melanurus
on 16 June 2011. The
specimen has a total length
of 155mm, including the
tail length of 15mm. This is
much smaller than the total
length measurements given
in Smith (1943), indicating
that it was probably a
juvenile individual. The
morphometric details of the
snake including the scalation
are given in Table 1. The
scalation details of Slender
Coral Snake obtained from
KAU campus were compared
with the scalation details for
the Slender Coral Snake given
in Smith (1943) and Whitaker
& Captain (2004). The KAU
 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012

Image 1. Google Map of KAU campus Vellanikkara

specimen has 38 subcaudal Distribution Maharastra, Karnataka,

scales and based on this it Smith (1943) gives the Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
can be concluded that it was distribution range of Slender Whitaker & Captain (2004)
a male individual. The GPS Coral Snake from Bengal, give the Slender Coral Snakes
readings of the location from Nagpur, Bombay, Dharwar, definite records from Gujarat,
where the specimen was Malabar, Coimbatore, Maharashtra, Karnataka,
obtained are 76016’45.4”E Anamalais and Sri Lanka. Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
and 10032’46.6”N, at an Molur & Walker (1998), There is a single record from
altitude of 43m. give the distribution range Dhar, Madhya Pradesh (Vyas
of Calliophis melanurus as & Vyas 1981) and Nallamala,
Description
Slender Coral Snake is an Table 1. A comparison on the scalation of Slender Coral Snake obtained from KAU
extremely slender bodied, campus, compared with that of Whitaker & Captain (2004)
mildly venomous snake with
Smith, (1943); Whitaker &
KAU specimen
smooth scales (Images 2 & Captain (2004)
3). The head and neck black, total length 155mm 335mm
back light brown, tail brown tail length 15mm 22mm
with two black rings, one at body scale 13:13:13 13:13:13
the base and other near the ventrals 251 249-277
tip of the tail, under side subcaudal 38 33-37 (male); 24-27 (female)
coral red. The snake when preocular touches nasal touches nasal
disturbed raised and coiled postocular two two
the tail. supra labials 6 (3rd and 4th touching eye) 6 (3rd and 4th touching eye)
anal scale divided divided
subcaudals paired paired

34

Image 1. Dorsal view of Slender Coral Snake from KAU campus, Vellanikkara, June 2011
northern Andhra Pradesh
(Sharma 1971; Sanyal et al.
1993). Recently Guptha &
Rajasekhar (2011) reported
Calliophis melanurus from
the Eastern Ghats.
Thus the present record
of the Calliophis melanurus
from the Kerala Agricultural
University campus, Vellani-
kkara, Thrissur District, in
Kerala is of interest. As this
is the first record of this
species from south of the
Palghat Gap, Western Ghats.
All other published records of
this species were from north
of Palghat Gap.
References
Deepak, V., S. Harikrishnan,
K. Vasudevan & N.E. Smith
(2010). Redescription
of Bibron’s Coral Snake,
Calliophis bibroni, Jan, 1858
with notes and new records
from south of the Palghat
and Shencottah Gaps of
the Western Ghats, India.
Hamadryad 35(1): 1-10.
Breeding Specialist Group,
India, Coimbatore, India.
175pp.
Sanyal, D.P., B. Dattagupta
& N.C. Gayen (1993).
Reptilia, pp. 1–63. In: Ghosh,
A.K. (ed.). Fauna of Andhra
Pradesh—Part 1. (Reptilia,
Amphibia, Fishes). Zoological
Survey of India, Calcutta.
Sharma, R.C. (1971).
The reptile fauna of the
Nagarjunasagar Dam area
(Andhra Pradesh, India).
Records of the Zoological
Survey of India 63(1–4):77–
93.
Smith, M.A. (1943). The fauna
of British India, Ceylon and
Burma including the whole of
the Indo-Chinese Subregion.
Reptilia and Amphibia, Vol.
Guptha, B.M. & M. Rajasekhar
III. Serpents. Taylor and
(2011). Sighting of Slender
Francis, London.
Coral Snake Calliophis
Vyas, T.P. & M. Vyas (1981).
melanurus in Seshachalam
A note on the Slender Coral
Hills, Eastern Ghats, India: a
Snake, Callophis melanurus.
new record. Reptile Rap 12:
Journal of the Bombay
5–6.
Natural History Society 78:
Palot, M.J. & C. Radhakrishnan
611–612.
(2011). An updated checklist
Whitaker, R. & A. Captain
of reptiles of Kerala. Malabar
(2004). Snakes of India-The
Trogon 9: (1&2): 24–30.
Field Guide. Draco Books,
Molur, S. & S. Walker (eds.)
Chennai, xiv+481pp.
(1998). Report of the
workshop “Conservation
Acknowledgements
Assessment and Management
We thank the Associate Dean,
Plan for Reptiles of India”
College of Forestry, KAU for
(BCPP-Endangered Species
encouragement. We also thank
Project), Zoo Outreach
Mr. Sreehari VS for helping in
Organisation, Conservation
preparing the map.
Image 3. The coral-red coloration of the underside and bluish-grey color of the under tail of the
Slender Coral Snake from KAU campus, Vellanikkara, June 2011
1
 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012

UGC Sponsored Major Research Project on Herpetofauna

Project Title: “Herpetofaunal Diversity of Sonitpur District, Assam and Adjacent Arunachal Pradesh India with
Special Reference to Ecobiology and Breeding Behaviour of Certain Rare Species”

i. Principal Investigator: Dr. Mohini Mohan Borah

Ii. Designation: Assistant Professor in Zoology
iii. Address:
a. Office: Chaiduar College, Gohpur, Sonitpur, Assam 784168
b. Residence: Ward No.-6, Madhya Chatrang, P.O- Gohpur, Sonitpur, Assam 784168
iv. UGC Approve No. & Date: F.No.-39-619/2010(SR) Dt. 12th January 2011.
v. Duration of Project: 3 Years w. e. f. 01-02-2011.
vi. PI in brief: The proposer of the project did his PhD on the topic “A study on distribution of amphibian fauna of
Arunachal Pradesh with special reference to habitat ecology of tadpoles”. He has published 48 papers in different
journals and national and international seminars. He has completed a UGC sponsored MRP on the topic “Exploration of
aquatic fauna of Sonitpur District, Assam with emphasis on conservation measures” the result of which would be
additional value of the proposed project. He has constant touch with famous herpetologists of the country and abroad. As
these, he achieved a significant milestone in organising a programme at his own college on 07 may 2008 on the occasion
of International Year of Frog, 2008 by the gracious participation of Prof. Dr. Annemarie Ohler, Curator of reptiles and
amphibians, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France and Dr. Stephans Grosjean, Assistant Professor of the
same institute. The proposer is one of the contributor of the book “ Threatened Amphibians of the World ” published by,
LYNX, Spain in 2008.
vii. Executive summery of the ongoing Project:
The northeastern region of India along with eastern Himalaya is recognized as one of the global bio-diversity hotspot
region of the world. The eastern Himalayan region is unique in all aspects of bio-diversity, ecosystem, topography,
climate and anthropological diversity. The region is a gateway to the Indian region for migration from Myanmar, China,
Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan etc. Major portion of the region is still largely inaccessible and less degraded ecologically than
the main land of India, but is rather extremely fragile, vulnerable and falls under the highly seismic zone. The National
Conservation Strategy, 1992, outlines the policy action required to give greater attention to biodiversity conservation. The
present study area ,i.e , Sonitpur District of Assam occupies 5,324km2 bordered with state of Arunachal Pradesh in the
north and river Brahmaputra in the south. Though the study area comprises a significant portion of eastern Himalayan
hotspot of biodiversity, and yet it is one amongst the least known. Various wild life surveys in the last decade mention
mainly on mammals and birds. The reptilian species diversity in the present study site is still not fully understood except
very few sporadic survey reports.
Many of the checklist of amphibian and reptilian species of northeastern India need further authentication and many
new species of Indo-Chinese elements are likely to occur. The aim of this ongoing project is to make a detailed investigation
on amphibian and reptilian habitat of Sonitpur District of Assam and adjacent Arunachal Pradesh. A few physico-chemical
parameter will be analysed in the diversed habitats of amphibians and reptilians of study site.
The inhabitants over the years acquired unique knowledge about the use of amphibian and reptilian species as food,
medicine and ornaments. A detailed ethnomedicozoological study may highlight various applications of animal species
and could provide a scope of knowledge for developing indigenous economy and environmental security.
The year 2008 has been declared as International Year of Frog because of their key role in ecological communities.
They are considered as important bioindicators of global climatic chang. Significant declines and apparent extinctions
among numerous species were noted by researchers all over the world since 1980. The pressure on amphibian and
reptilian habitat can be recorded only when detailed investigations on ecology, food habit , biology and taxonomic study
is available. Study of distributional pattern or zoogeography of a species provides information on ranges of their natural
distribution and boundaries that help to find out the endemic status of a species. The use of different species of frogs,
lizards, tortoises, snake etc. by a indigenous people as food and medicine indicate its potential for economic and academic
importance.
viii. Significance of the study:
Initially any research and developmental programme survey and demarcation are basic necessities to be carried
out in the beginning. Scientific knowledge on biodiversity in general and herpeto fauna in particular of the Sonitpur
District is surprisingly deficient. Most of the area in the district is unique ecologically and faunastically. Another important
consideration is a great variation in relationship of people to biodiversity and ecosystem which are social, economic,
cultural and scientific importance. This project will help in bringing out first hand information and resources data base
on the various aspects of biological studies on the lesser known herpetofauna of Sonitpur district of Assam and adjacent
Arunachal Pradesh.
The results of the project may provide useful information to the researchers, various state government departments,
NGO’s, Indian Council of Medical Research, IUCN, Species Survival Group (SSG), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Indian
Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Declining Amphibian Population Task Force (DAPTF), Bombay Natural History
Society (BNHS), Zoo Outreach Organization (ZOO), Forest Research Institutes, Universities, Local entrepreneurs, etc.

36