A Wetpaint Site

COLUBRIDAE

This is the largest family of snakes, consisting of majority of the genera. These are the typical non-venomous snakes. The structural morphology of these snakes varies widely depending upon their habits. Several species of this family are common and some are endemic. This even includes some of the most elusive species. They fall under several genera and each genus consists of following species.

Coelognathus, Coluber, Argyrogena and Ptyas
Snakes of these genera are medium sized to large, terrestrial species, which are diurnal in habit. They are common in most areas where they are found and feed on a variety of prey from frogs, lizards to small rodents. Oviparous, and lays leathery shelled eggs. In general, females attain greater lengths than females. The species found are given below. An * indicates endemism.

Coelognathus helena monticollaris* SCHULZ, 1992
Coelognathus helena helena (DAUDIN, 1803)
Argyrogena fasciolata (SHAW, 1802)
Coluber bholanathi* SHARMA, 1976
Ptyas mucosa (LINNAEUS, 1758)

Lycodon, Oligodon and Dryocalamus
These snakes are shy and nocturnal, seldom appearing in the day time. Primarily feed on small reptiles such as geckos as they prefer dilapidated wrecks for dwelling. Kukris have special preference to reptile eggs for feeding. They are known to take refuge in caves, leaf litter and fallen logs. They also have long maxillary rear teeth. Oviparous. The species that are found in southern India are, An * indicates endemic species.

Lycodon aulicus (LINNAEUS, 1754)
Lycodon flavicollis* MUKHERJEE & BHUPATHY, 2007
Lycodon flavomaculatus WALL, 1907
Lycodon striatus (SHAW, 1802)
Lycodon travancoricus* (BEDDOME, 1870)

Oligodon affinis* GÜNTHER, 1862
Oligodon arnensis (SHAW, 1802)
Oligodon brevicauda* GÜNTHER, 1862
Oligodon nikhili* WHITAKER & DATTATRI, 1982
Oligodon taeneolatus (JERDON, 1853)
Oligodon travancoricus* (BEDDOME, 1877)
Oligodon venustus* (JERDON, 1853)

Dryocalamus numpha DAUDIN, 1803
Dryocalamus gracilis GÜNTHER, 1864

Sibynophis subpunctatus (DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1854)

Dendrelaphis, Chrysopelea and Ahaetulla
These snakes are the common tree snakes of southern India. The snakes are characterized by a long, slender body, with large eyes and also keeled ventral scales (in some species). These snakes are very agile and move on trees with amazing speed. The chief prey species of these snakes are lizards, nestling birds and tree frogs. In some rare cases, tree snakes eating other snakes and even fishes have been recorded. Most tree snakes are oviparous, except for all the vine snakes (Ahaetulla sp.) which are live bearing forms. The following species occur in southern India. An * indicates endemic species. A ? indicates doubtful occurrance.
Dendrelaphis tristis (DAUDIN, 1803)
D. grandoculis* (BOULENGER, 1890)
D. cf. pictus
D. bifrenalis (?) (BOULENGER, 1890)
D. caudolineolatus (?) (GÜNTHER, 1869)

Chrysopelea ornata (SHAW, 1802)

Ahaetulla nasutus (LACÉPÈDE, 1789)
Ahaetulla pulverulentus (DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1854)
Ahaetulla dispar* GÜNTHER, 1864)
Ahaetulla perroteti* (DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1854)

Amphiesma, Atretium, Xenochrophis, Macrophisthodon
These snakes are commonly called ‘keelbacks’. This is because of the presence of a small keel or fold in each scale of these snakes. The rough surface often helps them in moving through marshy areas and while swimming. Most keelbacks are frog eaters and are very active during the rains, appearing abundantly only during the monsoons. A number of species are found in southern India. All are oviparous and the eggs are laid in any convenient shelter and the female is known to guard the eggs until they hatch. The following species occur in south India. An * indicates endemism.

Amphiema stolatum (LINNAEUS, 1758)
Amphiesma beddomei* (GÜNTHER, 1864)
Amphiesma monticola* (JERDON, 1853)

Macrophisthodon plumbicolor (CANTOR, 1839)

Atretium schistosum DAUDIN, 1803

Xenochrophis piscator (SCHNEIDER, 1799)

Rhabdops
This very unique snake is commonly called ‘forest snake’. In south India, only one species is known. It is the olive forest snake and is endemic to the Western Ghats, above Palghat gap (> 10’N lat.). These snakes are long, smooth and glossy bodied snakes that are found in hill streams and torrents in rain forests. It is a semi-aquatic snake and is known to feed on freshwater crustaceans.
Rhabdops olivaceus (BEDDOME, 1863)

Xylophis
These snakes are commonly called ‘wood snakes’ or ‘narrow headed snakes’. These snakes are small, fossorial, smooth scales, glossy snakes that are found in the dense rain forests of Western Ghats. These snakes are endemic to this region and this genus is not represented anywhere else. They are oviparous and feed on small, soft bodied insects and worms. An * indicates endemism. A ? indicates doubtful occurrance.
Xylophis perroteti* (DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1854)
X. stenorhynchus* (GÜNTHER, 1875)
X. captaini* GOWER & WINKLER, 2007

Boiga
These snakes are commonly called ‘cat snakes’. They are medium sized, slender, nocturnal snakes that are primarily arboreal. They are rear fanged and have mild venom / toxic saliva to paralyze their prey. Their prey chiefly consists of lizards, nestling birds and other small creatures. Cat snakes are so called because of their large cat-like eyes, vertically elliptical pupil and nocturnal habits. These snakes are oviparous, the eggs being laid in a tree hole. The following species are reported from southern India. An * indicates endemic species. It is likely that one more species is soon to be described from Eastern Ghats.
Boiga trigonata (SCHNEIDER, 1802)
Boiga forsteni (DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1854)
Boiga beddomei (WALL, 1909)
Boiga nuchalis (GÜNTHER, 1875)
Boiga dightoni* (BOULENGER, 1894)

Enhydris, Cerbyrus & Gerardia
These snakes are known as ‘brackish water snakes’ or ‘mud snakes’. They are distributed along the coastal waters, deltas and estuaries. Reports of these snakes occurring in rice fields and other such cultivated areas are also not infrequent. They are found in mangroves too and are often found in good numbers during tidal movements, occasionally. These snakes are mildly toxic. They are live bearers or ovoviviparous forms. These snakes chiefly feed on crustaceans and fish. The following species are found in southern India. An * indicates endemism.
Enhydris enhydris (SCHNEIDER, 1799)
E. sieboldii (SCHLEGEL, 1837)
E. dusumieri* (DUMÉRIL & BIBRON, 1854)
Cerbyrys rhynchops (SCHNEIDER, 1799)

Gerardia prevostiana BOULENGER, 1890

snakeranglerr	Latest page update: made by snakeranglerr , Aug 12 2009, 12:41 PM EDT (about this update About This Update Edited by snakeranglerr 1 word added 1 word deleted view changes - complete history)
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