COMMON SNAKES OF OF CENTRAL INDIA
Snakes are cold-blooded animals that have been present on earth for the past 125 to 112 million years. They are distributed throughout the world except in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. About 2900 species of snakes are found on our planet, of which 600 species are venomous. India is home to over 278 species of snakes, of which only 61 are venomous., and is well known for the “Big Four” venomous snakes causing most human deaths: the Indian Cobra, Common Krait, Russel’s Viper, and Saw-scaled Viper. The reasons for death are usually lack of awareness and absence of timely and effective medical treatmen t.
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TO AVOID SNAKE BITES
POST SNAKE BITE CARE
Keep the surroundings clean. Keep the house free of rats. Keep bags on a raised platform. Always checkbeddings and clothes before using them. If you see a snake,remain calm and immediately call a rescuer. Always wear shoes or gumboots when on feld. If you are working latein the evening,carry a stickand torch. Always be cautious about anysnake you see and give it enough space.
DOs: Keep the victim calm with minimum movements. Remove any tight items such as watches or socks. Monitor vital signs like perspiration and fever. Take the victim to the nearest treatment centre as soon as possible.
SAW-SCALED VIPER Echis carinatus
RUSSELL’S VIPER
COMMON KRAIT
Daboia russeli
Bungaruscaeruleus
Naja naja
Trimeresurus gramineus
Upto1 to 1.5 m inlength. h. Hisseswhen agitated(which soundslike a pressure cooker whistle). Aggressive snake,active during dayand night. Primarilyfeedsonrats.
Upto1 m inlength. Blackwithsi ngle or pair of white bands. Nocturnal innature. Distincthexagonal scaleson back. Feedson other snakes.
Upto1 to 2 m inlength. Displayshood whendisturbed. Commonlyfound near rocks. Primarilyfeedsonrats, hence occasionallyenters lyenters homes.
Upto1 m inlength. Greenin colour witha triangular head. Staysclose to the base of plantsinwait of prey. Primarilyfeedsonlizardsandmice. Huntsby ambush;active atnight.
NON-VENOMOUS
NON-VENOMOUS
NON-VENOMOUS
Upto0.4 m inlength. Distinctarrow-shapedmark onhead. Rubsscaleswhendistrubed. Feedsonlizards,frogsandmice. Foundunder rocks,crevicesand leaf litter.
NON-VENOMOUS
NON-VENOMOUS
INDIAN COBRA
BAMBOO PIT VIPER
DON’Ts: Do not capture the snake. Do not cut near the bitten area. Do not tie a cloth near the bitten area. Do not try to suck out the venom. Do not apply ice. Do not rely on local shamans .
ROLE OF SNAKES
SNAKE SUPERSTITIONS Snakes do not drinkmilk.Snakes that are fed milk die soon. →There is no snake pearl,it is often the snake’s shining scales on the head. →Snakes do not have beards,it is usuallythe s nake skin which theymoult as theygrow heygrow in size. →Snakes do not remember faces,nor do they take revenge. →None of the snakes found in India can spit venom. →Sand Boas do not have two heads.
INDIAN RAT SNAKE
GREEN KEELBACK
Boiga trigonata
Gongylophis conicus
Lycodonaulicus
Ptyasmucosa
Macropisthodon plumbicolor
MistakenforSaw-scaledViper. Upto0.4to0.7min length.
Mistakenfor Russel’sViper. Upto1 m inlength. Stout,keeled bodywith small spikesthat help the snake during burrowing. Prefersliving underground. Feedsonratsandmice byconstricting c ting.
Mistakenfor CommonKrait. Upto1 m inlength. Brownishsnake withprominentbands near headthat getnarrower towardstail. Excellentclimber onwalls andusually foundhiddenincrevicesandholes.
MistakenforIndianCobra. Upto2m inlength. Commonlyencounteredsnake,special yencounteredsnake,speciallyduringday. lyduringday. Blackbandsbeloweyeand nearmouth. Feedsonrats,lizards,andsmallbirds.
MistakenforBambooPit Viper. Upto1m inlength. h. Usuallyfoundin tallgrassand openlands. Calmbynatureand seldombites. Feedslargelyontoads andfrogs. Juvenileshaveblackand yellowmarkingsonhead.
COMMON CAT SNAKE
Usuallyatthe baseof shrubsandnear forestoor.
Nocturnalinnature. Coopsintoan ‘S’tostrike whenthreatened. Feedsonlizards,frogs andmice.
NON-VENOMOUS
COMMON WOLF SNAKE
COMMON SAND BOA
NON-VENOMOUS
NON-VENOMOUS
NON-VENOMOUS
Oftenseeninterritorialghtsinsummer.
NON-VENOMOUS
NON-VENOMOUS
NEAREST TREATMENT CENTRE
THE CORBETT FOUNDATION CORBETT| KUTCH| BANDHAVGARH|KANHA| KAZIRANGA ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 81-88,Atlanta, 8thFloor,209, NarimanPoint, Mumbai, Maharashtra40002 1 Tel.:+9122 : +9122 614666400 PHOTOGRAPHCREDITS SiddharthEdake AniruddhaDhamorikar Dr.SharadKumar POSTERCREATEDBY AniruddhaDhamorikar JanhaviRajan WWW.CORB ETTF OUNDATI ON.ORG INFO @ CORBETTFOUNDATION.ORG INFO@ FACEBOOK.COM/THECORBETTFOUNDATION
DISCLAIMER: This poster onlyserves as a guide to the common snakes of Central India and gives basic primaryrst aid information in case of a snake bite.
It should not be treated as a guide to treating snake bites.In case of a snake bite,the victim must be taken to the nearest hospital as soon as possible.
Snakes are the best pest controllers in farm lands. → Snakes are indicators of a healthy ecosystem. → All snakes are predatoryin nature but also form an important part of the diet of manybirds and mammals. → Snake antivenom is produced using snake’s venom. It is the onlymedicine known to be effective in treating a snake bite victim. →
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CHECKERED KEELBACK
BUFF-STRIPED KEELBAC KEELBACK K
BRONZEBACK TREESNAKE
INDIAN ROCK PYTHON
COMMON WINE SNAKE
BRAHMINY BLIND SNAKE
Xenochrophis piscator
Aphiesma stolatum
Dendrelaphis tristis
Molurus molurus
Ahetulla nasuta
Ramphotyphlops braminus
NON-VENOMOUS
NON-VENOMOUS
NON-VENOMOUS
NON-VENOMOUS
NON-VENOMOUS
NON-VENOMOUS
