Some of the common snakes in and around Malhar
Rat Snake
Non-venomous.
Appearance: Typically grey or brown, with smooth scales and a slender build. They can be quite long, up to 2 meters.
Distinct black lines on the face and towards the tail. Often mistaken for cobras due to their ability to flatten their heads in a defensive posture. Tail tapers much longer than Cobras.
Appearance: Typically grey or brown, with smooth scales and a slender build. They can be quite long, up to 2 meters.
Distinct black lines on the face and towards the tail. Often mistaken for cobras due to their ability to flatten their heads in a defensive posture. Tail tapers much longer than Cobras.
Spectacled Cobra
Venomous
Appearance: Recognizable by the hood with a "spectacle" pattern. The color varies from black to light brown or grey.
When threatened, it expands its hood, can hiss loudly and strikes the ground as a warning.
Appearance: Recognizable by the hood with a "spectacle" pattern. The color varies from black to light brown or grey.
When threatened, it expands its hood, can hiss loudly and strikes the ground as a warning.
Russell’s Viper
Venomous
Appearance: Stout body with a pattern of dark brown or black splotches surrounded by white or yellow. The body is heavily built.
Diamond-shaped pattern. Notable for its hiss (like a pressure cooker) and the tendency to coil tightly when threatened.
Appearance: Stout body with a pattern of dark brown or black splotches surrounded by white or yellow. The body is heavily built.
Diamond-shaped pattern. Notable for its hiss (like a pressure cooker) and the tendency to coil tightly when threatened.
Checkered Keelback
Non-venomous.
Appearance: Greenish or brownish with a distinctive checkered pattern. Scales are somewhat rough (keeled).
Commonly found near water bodies and is non-venomous but can be aggressive (with bites) if provoked.
Appearance: Greenish or brownish with a distinctive checkered pattern. Scales are somewhat rough (keeled).
Commonly found near water bodies and is non-venomous but can be aggressive (with bites) if provoked.
Common Krait
Venomous
Appearance: Typically blue-black with white bands. It has a smooth and shiny appearance and is relatively slender.
Double bands as against single bands on Wolf Snakes. Extremely venomous; often found in sleeping areas or near human dwellings at night.
Appearance: Typically blue-black with white bands. It has a smooth and shiny appearance and is relatively slender.
Double bands as against single bands on Wolf Snakes. Extremely venomous; often found in sleeping areas or near human dwellings at night.
Buff-striped Keelback
Non-venomous
Appearance: Olive green with yellow or buff stripes running along the body; scales are keeled.
Gentle by nature, found near water bodies, and unlikely to bite.
Appearance: Olive green with yellow or buff stripes running along the body; scales are keeled.
Gentle by nature, found near water bodies, and unlikely to bite.
Common Trinket
Non-venomous.
Appearance: Has a striking pattern with bands of brown, black, and cream. It can vary significantly in color but usually has a bright, clean pattern.
There is a vertical black streak below the eye. Some specimens have a white, black-edged collar; others have two black longitudinal streaks on the head. The lower parts are yellowish, with or without a few small black spots.
Appearance: Has a striking pattern with bands of brown, black, and cream. It can vary significantly in color but usually has a bright, clean pattern.
There is a vertical black streak below the eye. Some specimens have a white, black-edged collar; others have two black longitudinal streaks on the head. The lower parts are yellowish, with or without a few small black spots.
Green Vine Snake
Non-venomous
Appearance: Bright green, thin body with a pointed snout. The eyes have horizontal pupils. There is a narrow yellowish-white stripe along each side of the belly and tail.
Stays in trees and can be very hard to spot due to its camouflage.
Appearance: Bright green, thin body with a pointed snout. The eyes have horizontal pupils. There is a narrow yellowish-white stripe along each side of the belly and tail.
Stays in trees and can be very hard to spot due to its camouflage.
Annamalai Wolf Snake
Non-venomous
Appearance: Dark grey or black with white or yellow bands, slender and small.
Non-venomous, nocturnal, often mistaken for venomous species (Common Krait) due to its coloration and bands.
Appearance: Dark grey or black with white or yellow bands, slender and small.
Non-venomous, nocturnal, often mistaken for venomous species (Common Krait) due to its coloration and bands.
Banded Kukri
Non-venomous.
Appearance: Named for the kukri-like shape of its teeth, it has dark bands across a lighter body.
It is pale brown or orange above, with well-defined black crossbands. Found in leaf litter or under stones, non-venomous but can cause painful cuts if handled.
Appearance: Named for the kukri-like shape of its teeth, it has dark bands across a lighter body.
It is pale brown or orange above, with well-defined black crossbands. Found in leaf litter or under stones, non-venomous but can cause painful cuts if handled.
Elliot’s Shield-tail
Non-venomous
Appearance: Stout body with a unique shield-like tail. Color ranges from brown to reddish with a darker head.
Rarely seen; burrows underground and has a smooth, shiny appearance.
Appearance: Stout body with a unique shield-like tail. Color ranges from brown to reddish with a darker head.
Rarely seen; burrows underground and has a smooth, shiny appearance.
Common Bronzeback Tree Snake
Non-venomous
Appearance: Slender body with a long, distinct thin neck. The dorsal side is bronze-colored.
Very agile in trees; when disturbed, it may expand its body showing a bright purple or blue interscale color.
Appearance: Slender body with a long, distinct thin neck. The dorsal side is bronze-colored.
Very agile in trees; when disturbed, it may expand its body showing a bright purple or blue interscale color.