Snakes of India

Snakes of India

Wart snakes of India

Acrochordus granulatus-Little filesnake/Marine filesnake -photo courtesy of wikimedia.org

Only one species is currently recognised in India.

Family: Acrochordidae (Wart snakes)

1.Genus: Acrochordus

*Acrochordus granulatus-Little filesnake/Marine filesnake

Pythons & Boas of India

Python reticulatus - Reticulated python
Photo courtesy of www.wikipedia.com

Family: Boidae

India has 3 species of boas and 3 subspecies.
Only 2 species of python occur in India, of which there are 5 subspecies which are currently recognised.
India's boids are diviided into two distinct subfamilies and 3 genera.

A.Subfamily: Erycinae

1.Genus: Eryx

*Eryx johnii- Brown sand boa/Indian sand boa
There are two subspecies currently recognised in India:
*E.j.johnii
*E.j.persicus
*Eryx whitakeri- Whitaker's sand boa

2.Genus: Gongylophis

*Gongylophis conicus- Rough tailed sand boa
There is one recognised subspecies:
*G.c.brevis

B.Subfamily: Pythoninae

3.Genus: Python

*Python molurus- Indian python
There are two recognised subspecies:
*P.m.bivittatus- Burmese python
*P.m.molurus- Indian Rock python

*Python reticulatus- Reticulated python
*Python reticulatus- Reticulated python
There are three recognised subspecies:
*P.r.jampeanus- Dwarf reticulated python
*P.r.reticulatus
*P.r.saputrai-Selayer reticulated python

Colubrids of India

Boiga dendrophila - Mangrove snake Photo:Rick Budai

Family: Colubridae

The family Colubridae is represented in India by no less than 138 species, and 41 subspecies. There are 43 genera and 9 subfamilies represented in India.

A.Subfamily: Calamariinae

1.Genus: Calamaria - (Reed snakes)

*Calamaria pavimentata- Collared reed snake
There are two recognised subspecies:
*C.p.pavimentata
*C.p.miarai

B.Subfamily: Colubrinae

2.Genus: Ahaetulla - (Asian vine snakes)

*Ahaetulla dispar - Indian bronze back/Guenther's vine snake
*Ahaetulla fronticincta - Guenther's whip snake/burmese vine snake
*Ahaetulla nasuta - Long nosed tree snake/green vine snake
*Ahaetulla perroteti - Western Ghats bronze back
*Ahaetulla prasina - oriental whip snake/asian vine snake
There are two recognised subspecies:
*A.p.prasina
*A.p.medioxima
*Ahaetulla pulverulenta - Brown speckled whip snake

3.Genus: Argyrogena - (Asian racers)

*Argyrogena fasciolata - Banded Racer

4.Genus: Blythia - (Reticulate snakes)

*Blythia reticulata - Blythe's reticulate snake

5.Genus: Boiga - (Cat-eyed snakes)

*Boiga andamanensis - Andaman cat snake
*Boiga beddomei - Beddome's cat snake
*Boiga ceylonensis - Sri Lanka cat snake
*Boiga cyanea - Green cat snake
*Boiga cynodon - Dog toothed cat snake
*Boiga dendrophila - Mangrove snake
There is one recognised subspecies:
*B.d.dendrophila
*Boiga dightoni - Pirmad cat snake
*Boiga drapiezii - White spotted cat snake
*Boiga forsteni - Forsten's cat snake
*Boiga gokool - Arrowback tree snake
*Boiga multifasciata - Many banded tree snake
*Boiga multomaculata - Many spotted cat snake
*Boiga nuchalis
*Boiga ochracea - Tawny cat snake
There are three recognised subspecies:
*B.o.ochracea
*B.o.stoliczkae
*B.o.walli
*Boiga quincunciata
*Boiga siamensis - Grey cat snake
*Boiga trigonata - India gamma snake
There is one recognised subspecies:
*B.t.trigonata
*Boiga wallachi - Nicobar cat snake

6.Genus: Chrysopelea - (Flying snakes)

*Chrysopelea ornata - Golden flying snake
There are two recognised subspecies:
*C.o.ornata
*C.o.ornatissima
*Chrysopelea paradisi - Paradise flying snake
There is one recognised subspecies:
*C.p.paradisi

7.Genus: Coluber - (Racers)

*Coluber bholanathi - Sharma's racer
*Coluber gracilis - Graceful racer
*Coluber vittacaudatus

8.Genus: Coronella - (Smooth snakes)

*Coronella brachyura - Indian smooth snake

9.Genus: Cyclophiops - (Green snakes)

*Cyclophiops doriae - Doria's green snake

10.Genus Dendrelaphis - (Asian tree snakes/Bronzebacks)

*Dendrelaphis bifrenalis - Boulenger's bronze back
*Dendrelaphis caudolineolatus
*Dendrelaphis cyanochloris - Wall's bronze back
*Dendrelaphis gorei - Gore's bronze back
*Dendrelaphis grandoculis - Southern bronze back
*Dendrelaphis humayuni - Tiwar's bronze back
*Dendrelaphis pictus - Common bronze back
There are two recognised subspecies:
*D.p.pictus
*D.p.andamanensis
*Dendrelaphis schokari
*Dendrelaphis tristis - Dawdin's bronze back

11.Genus Dinodon - (Big tooth snakes)

*Dinodon gammiei - Gammie's wolf snake
*Dinodon septentrionalis - White banded wolf snake

12.Genus: Dryocalamus - (Bridal snakes)

*Dryocalamus gracilis - Scarce bridal snake
*Dryocalamus nympha - Vellore bridal snake

13.Genus: Elachistodon - (Indian egg-eating snake)

*Elachistodon westermanni - Indian Egg eating snake

14.Genus: Gongylosoma

*Gongylosoma nicobariensis

15.Genus: Gonyosoma

*Gonyosoma oxycephalun - Red tailed green snake

16.Genus: Hemorrhois - (Asian whipsnakes)

*Hemorrhois ravergieri - Spotted whip snake
There are two recognised subspecies:
*H.r.ravergieri
*H.r.cernovi

17.Genus: Liopeltis - (Reed snakes)

*Liopeltis calamaria - Calamaria reed snake
*Liopeltis frenatus - Gunther's reed snake
*Liopeltis rappi
*Liopeltis stoliczkae

18.Genus: Lytorhynchus - (Leafnose snakes)

*Lytorhynchus paradoxus - Sind long nosed sand snake

19.Genus: Oligodon - (Kukri snakes)

*Oligodon cyclurus - Cantor's kukri snake
*Oligodon affinis - Kukri snake
*Oligodon albocinctus - Light barred kukri snake
*Oligodon armensis - Common kukri snake
*Oligodon brevicauda - Short head kukri snake
*Oligodon catenata - Assam kukri snake
*Oligodon cinereus - Gunther's kukri snake
There are two recognised subspecies:
*O.c.cinereus
*O.c.tamdaoensis
*Oligodon dorsalis - Gray's kukri snake
*Oligodon erythrogaster - Nagarkot kukri snake
*Oligodon erythrorhachis - Namsang kukri snake
*Oligodon juglandifer - Walnut kukri snake
*Oligodon melaneus - Blue belly kukri snake
*Oligodon melanozonatus - Abor hills kukri snake
*Oligodon nikhili - Nikhil's kukri snake
*Oligodon taeniolatus - Streaked kukri snake
There are two recognised subspecies:
*O.t.taeniolatus
*O.t.fasciatus
*Oligodon theoboldi - Theobold's kukri snake
*Oligodon travancoricus - Travancore kukri snake
*Oligodon venustus - Jerdon's kukri snake
*Oligodon woodmasoni

20.Genus: Platyceps - (Racers)

*Platyceps karelini - Spotted desert racer
Currently only one subspecies is recognised:
*P.k.karelini
*Platyceps rhodorachis - Braid snake
Only one species is currently recognised:
*P.r.rhdorachus
*Platyceps ventromaculatus - Hardwicke's rat snake
One subspecies is currently recognised:
*P.v.ventromaculatus

21.Genus: Ptyas - (Rat snakes)

*Ptyas korros - Chinese rat snake
*Ptyas mucosa - Oriental rat snake
*Ptyas nigromarginatus - Green rat snake

22.Genus: Rhabdops - (Trapezoid snakes)

*Rhabdops bicolor - Brown trapezoid snake
*Rhabdops olivaceus - Olive trapezoid snake

23.Genus: Rhadinophis - (Trinket snakes)

*Rhadinophis frenatum
*Rhadinophis prasina - Green trinket snake

24.Genus: Sibynophis - (Many toothed snakes)

*Sibynophis bistrigatus - Gunther's many tooth snake
*Sibynophis collaris - Common many-tooth snake
*Sibynophis sagittarius
*Sibynophis subpunctatus - Jerdon's many-tooth snake

25.Genus Spalerosophis - (Diadem snakes)

*Spalerosophis arenarius - Red spotted royal snake
*Spalerosophis diadema - Diadem snake
There are two known subspecies:
*S.d.diadema
*S.d.schiraziana

26.Genus: Trachischium - (Worm eating snakes)

*Trachischium fuscum - Black belly worm eating snake
*Trachischium guentheri - Rose belly worm eating snake
*Trachischium laeve - Olive oriental slender snake
*Trachischium monticola - Mountain worm eating snake
*Trachischium tenuiceps - Yellow belly worm eating snake

C.Subfamily: Homalopsinae

27.Genus: Cantoria - (Water snakes)

*Cantoria violacea - Cantor's water snake

28.Genus: Cereberus - (Dog faced water snakes)

*Cerberus rynchops - New Guinea bock addam/dog faced water snake
Currently only one subspecies is recognised:
*C.r.rynchops

29.Genus: Enhydris - (Rainbow water snakes)

*Enhydris dussumieri - Dussumier's water snake
*Enhydris plumbea - Rice paddy snake
*Enhydris sieboldi - Siebold's water snake

30.Genus: Fordonia

*Fordonia leucobalia - Crab eating water snake/white bellied mangrove snake

31.Genus: Gerarda

*Gerarda prevostiana - Glossy marsh snake/cat eyed water snake/gerards water snake

32.Genus: Homalopsis - (Masked water snakes)

*Homalopsis buccata - Puff faced water snake/masked water snake
There are two subspecies currently recognised:
*H.b.buccata
*H.b.nigroventralis

D.Subfamily: Natricinae
33.Genus: Amphiesma - (Keelbacks)

*Amphiesma beddomei - Nilgiri keelback
*Amphiesma khasiense - Khasi hills keelback
*Amphiesma modestum - Modest keelback
*Amphiesma monticola - Wynad keelback
*Amphiesma nicobariense - Nicobar Island keelback
*Amphiesma parallelum - Yunnan keelback
*Amphiesma pealii - Assam keelback
*Amphiesma platyceps - Himalayan keelback
*Amphiesma sieboldii - Sikkim keelback
*Amphiesma stolatum - Buff-striped keelback
*Amphiesma xenura - Wall's keelback

34.Genus: Atretium

*Atretium schistosum - Olive keelback wart snake

35.Genus: Macropisthodon - (Keelbacks)

*Macropisthodon plumbicolor - Lead keelback
There is one recognised subspecies:
*M.p.plumbicolor

36.Genus: Psammodynastes - (Mock vipers)

*Psammodynastes pulverulentus - Common mock viper
There is one recognised subspecies:
*P.p.pulverulentus

37.Genus: Rhabdophis - (Keelbacks)

*Rhabdophis himalayanus - Orange-collared keelback
*Rhabdophis nuchalis - Hubei keelback
There are two recognised subspecies:
*R.n.nuchalis
*R.n.pentasupralabialis
*Rhabdophis subminiatus - Red-necked keelback
There are two recognised subspecies:
*R.s.subminiatus
*R.s.helleri

38.Genus: Sinonatrix - (Asiatic water snakes)

*Sinonatrix percarinata - Eastern water snake
There is one recognised subspecies:
*S.p.percarinata

39.Genus: Xenochrophis - (Painted keelbacks)

*Xenochrophis cerasogaster - Painted keelback
*Xenochrophis flavipunctatus - Yellow spotted keelback
There are two known subspecies:
*X.f.flavipunctatus
*X.f.schnurrenbergeri
*Xenochrophis piscator - Asiatic water snake
There are two recognised subspecies:
*X.p.piscator
*X.p.melanzostus
*Xenochrophis punctulatus
*Xenochrophis sanctijohannis - St John's keelback
*Xenochrophis trianguligerus - Triangle keelback

E.Subfamily: Pareatinae

40.Genus: Pareas - (Asian slug snakes)

*Pareas macularius - Spotted slug snake
There is one known subspecies:
*P.m.macularius

*Pareas monticola - Common slug snake

F.Subfamily: Psammophiinae

41.Genus: Psammophis - (Whip snakes)

*Psammophis condanarus - Sand snake
*Psammophis leithii - Pakistani ribbon snake
*Psammophis longifrons - Long sand racer
*Psammophis schokari - Schokari sand racer

G.Subfamily: Pseudoxenodontinae

42.Genus: Pseudoxenodon - (Big-eyed bamboo snakes)

*Pseudoxenodon macrops - Big-eyed bamboo snake
There is one recognised subspecies:
*P.m.macrops

H.Subfamily: Xenodermatinae

43.Genus: Xylophis - (Mountain snakes)

*Xylophis captaini - Captain's wood snake/Captain's xylophis
*Xylophis perroteti - Perrotet's mountain snake
*Xylophis stenorhynchus - Guenther's mountain snake

Elapids of India

Naja naja - Indian Cobra

Family: Elapidae

40 species and 15 subspecies of Elapids are present in India. These fall into 2 subfamilies and incorporates 16 genera

A.Subfamily: Elapinae
1.Genus: Bungarus - (Kraits)

*Bungarus andamanensis - South Andaman krait
*Bungarus bungaroides - Northeastern Hill krait
*Bungarus caeruleus - indian krait
*Bungarus fasciatus - Banded krait
*Bungarus lividus - Lesser black krait
*Bungarus niger - Greater black krait
*Bungarus sindanus - Sind krait
There are currently two recognised subspecies:
*B.s.sindanus
*B.s.walli

2.Genus: Calliophis - (Oriental coral snakes)

*Calliophis beddomei - Beddome's coral snake
*Calliophis bibroni - Bibron's coral snake
*Calliophis melanurus - Indian coral snake
There are currently two recognised subspecies:
*C.m.melanurus
*C.m.nigrescens
*Calliophis nigrescens - Black coral snake

3.Genus: Naja - (Cobras)

*Naja kaouthia - Monocled cobra
*Naja naja - Indian cobra
*Naja Oxiana - Central Asian cobra
*Naja sagittifera

4.Genus: Ophiophagus

*Ophiphagus hannah - King cobra

5.Genus: Sinomicrurus - (Asian coral snakes)

*Sinomicrurus macclellandi - MacClelland's coral snake
There are two recognised subspecies:
*S.m.macclellandi
*S.m.univirgatus

B.Subfamily: Hydrophiinae

6.Genus: Astrotia

*Astrotia stokesii - Stoke's sea snake

7.Genus: Disteira - (Sea snakes)

*Disteira nigrocincta
*Disteira walli - Wall's sea snake

8.Genus: Enhydrina - (Beaked sea snakes)

*Enhydrina schistosa - Beaked sea snake

9.Genus: Hydrophis - (Asian sea snakes)

*Hydrophis cyanocinctus - Annulated sea snake
*Hydrophis fasciatus - Striped sea snake
*Hydrophis lapemoides - Persian gulf sea snake
*Hydrophis mamillaris - Bombay sea snake
*Hydrophis obscurus - Russel's sea snake
*Hydrophis ornatus - Ornate reef sea snake
There are four recognised subspecies:
*H.o.ornatus
*H.o.godeffroyi
*H.o.maresianus
*H.o.ocellatus
*Hydrophis pachycercos
*Hydrophis spiralis - Yellow sea snake
*Hydrophis stricticollis - Collared sea snake

10.Genus: Kerilia

*Kerilia jerdonii - Jerdon's sea snake
There is one currently recognised subspecies:
*K.j.jerdonii

11.Genus: Lapemis - (Sea snakes)

*Lapemis curtus - Shaw's sea snake
*Lapemis hardwickii - Hardwicke's spine-bellied sea snake

12Genus: Pelamis

*Pelamis platura - Yellowbelly sea snake

13.Genus: Polyodontognathus - (Dwarf sea snakes)

*Polyodontognathus caerulescens - Dwarf sea snake
There is currently one subspecies:
*P.c.caerulescens

14.Genus: Praescutata

*Praescutata viperina - Viperine sea snake

15.Genus: Thalassophis

*Thalassophis anomalus - Anomalous sea snake

16.Genus: Laticauda - (Sea kraits)

*Laticauda colubrina - Yellow-lipped sea krait
*Laticauda laticaudata - Blue-lipped sea krait
There are three recognised subspecies:
*L.l.laticaudata
*L.l.affinis
*L.l.wolffi
*Laticauda saintgironsi

Blind snakes of India

Ramphotyphlops - Common blindsnakes
Photo courtesy of www.wildlifeqld.au

Family: Leptotyphlopidae

Only 2 species are present in India within this family. Only 1 genera is represented.

1.Genus: Leptotyphlops - (Blind snakes)

*Leptotyphlops blanfordi - Sindh thread snake
*Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus - Longnosed worm snake

Family: Typhlopidae - (Blind snakes)

3 genera within the family typhlopidae are present in India. There are 20 species and 2 subspecies.

1.Genus: Grypotyphlops

*Grypotyphlops acutus

2.Genus: Ramphotyphlops - (Common blindsnakes)

*Ramphotyphlops braminus - Flowerpot snake

3.Genus: Typhlops - (Blind snakes)

*Typhlops andamanensis - Andaman worm snake
*Typhlops beddomii - Beddome's worm snake
*Typhlops bothriorhynchus
*Typhlops diardii - Diard's blind snake
There are two curently recognised subspecies:
*T.d.diardii
*T.d.platyventris
*Typhlops exiguus - Belgaum worm snake
*Typhlops fletcheri
*Typhlops jerdoni - Jerdon's worm snake
*Typhlops loveridgei - Loveridge's worm snake
*Typhlops mackinnoni
*Typhlops meszoelyi
*Typhlops mirus - Jan's worm snake
*Typhlops oatesii - Andaman Island worm snake
*Typhlops oligolepis - Few-scaled worm snake
*Typhlops pammeces - South India worm snake
*Typhlops porrectus - Slender worm snake
*Typhlops tenuicollis - Samagutin worm snake
*Typhlops thurstoni - Thurston's worm snake
*Typhlops tindalli - Nilgiri hills worm snake

Short-tailed & shield-tailed snakes of India

Vipers of India

Daboia russelii - Russell's viper

Family: Viperidae

The family Viperidae is well represented in India with no less than 24 species, and 16 subspecies. There are 14 genera of viperidae found in India.

A.Subfamily: Crotalinae - (Pit vipers)

1.Genus: Cryptelytrops

*Cryptelytrops albolabris - White-lipped tree viper
*Cryptelytrops andersonii - Andersen's pit viper
*Cryptelytrops cantori - Cantor's pit viper
*Cryptelytrops erythrurus - Redtail bamboo pit viper
*Cryptelytrops labialis - Nicobar bamboo pit viper
*Cryptelytrops purpureomaculatus - Mangrove viper
*Cryptelytrops septentrionalis - Nepal pit viper

2.Genus: Gloydius

*Gloydius himalyanus - Himalayan pit viper

3.Genus: Hypnale

*Hypnale hypnale - Hump-nosed moccasin

4.Genus: Ovophis - (Asian mountain pit vipers)

*Ovophis monticola - Chinese mountain pit viper
There is one currently recognised subspecies:
*O.m.monticola

5.Genus: Peltopelor

*Peltopelor macrolepis - Large-scaled pit viper

6.Genus: Popeia

*Popeia popeiorum - Pope's tree viper

7.Genus: Protobothrops - (Asian lance-head vipers)

*Protobothrops jerdonii - Jerdon's pit viper
There are currently three recognised subspecies:
*P.j.jerdonii
*P.j.bourreti
*P.j.meridionalis
*Protobothrops mucrosquamatus - Brown spotted pit viper

8.Genus: Trimeresurus - (Asian green pit vipers)

*Trimeresurus gramineus - Common bamboo viper
*Trimeresurus malabaricus - Malabarian pit viper
*Trimeresurus strigatus - Horeshoe pit viper

9.Genus: Tropidolaemus

*Tropidolaemus huttoni - Hutton's pit viper

10.Genus: Viridovipera - (Green tree vipers)

*Viridovipera medoensis - Green bamboo leaf pit viper
*Viridovipera stejnegeri - Chinese green tree viper
There are currently three recognised subspeies:
*V.s.stejnegeri
*V.s.kodairai
*V.s.makii

B.Subfamily: Viperinae

11.Genus: Daboia

*Daboia russelii - Russel's viper
There are three currently recognised subspecies:
*D.r.russelii
*D.r.limitis
*D.r.pulchella

12.Genus: Echis - (Saw-scaled vipers)

*Echis carinatus - Saw-scaled viper
There are two currently recognised subspecies:
*E.c.carinatus
*E.c.sochureki

13.Genus: Macrovipera -(Large vipers)

*Macrovipera lebetina - Levantine viper
There are four recognised subspecies:
*M.l.cernovi
*M.l.obtusa
*M.l.peilei
*M.l.turanica

14.Genus: Pseudocerastes - (false horned vipers)

*Pseudocerastes persicus - Persian horned viper

Sunbeam snakes of India

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