Friday, June 17, 2011

Common bronze back(Dentrelaphis tristis)


(Non-venomous)A long graceful tree snake. Eyes large, lustrous, with rounded pupil and golden iris: tail about a third total length; scales smooth; dorsum unpatterned- or bronzy- brown, vertebral scales on neck and forehead yellow; with a buff flank stripe from neck to vent; light blue on neck between scales that is revealed during a display; belly pale grey, green or yellow. Inhabits open areas, such as disturbed forests, forest clearing and around human habitation in rural areas, especially on thatched roofs of house. Diurnal and arboreal, but also know to forage on land and at the edge of water. They can make long jumps between trees. Diet comprises frogs and lizards, and also bird eggs and insects. Oviparous, probably breeding continuously; clutches of 6-7 are deposited in tree hollows or deserted bird nests; eggs 10-12 * 29-39mm and incubation period 4-6 weeks, eggs hatching in June. Distributed throughout India, in addition to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Barred wolf (Lycodon striatus)



Barred wolf(Lycodon striatus) : Non-venomous. A small, ground-dwelling. Snout flattened; head weakly differentiated from necks; supralabials eight, first and second of which contact nasal; dorsam black to dark brown, with a series of white or yellow transverse marks, distance between which diminishes towards tail; upper lips and belly unpatterned white. Inhabits dry regions, including forest edges and semi deserts, hiding under stones during the day and emerging at night to forage. Diet comprises lizards , such as geckos and skinks. clutches are 2-4, eggs relatively large at 9-12 * 25-30mm and laid in april. Parental care of eggs known. Widespread from central Asia to India, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Banded kukri snake(Oligodon arnensis)

Banded kukri (Oligodon arnensis) : Superficialy resembles the venomous krait, although this is a completely harmless snake. A small snake; body stout and cylindrical ; snout short and blunt; scales smooth; dorsum brown, usually with red or purple marking, lighter on flunks, with 32-41 black crossbars or transversely arranged spots that break up on flanks into streaks, sometimes edged with cream; bars 1-5 scales wide; head with three dark,arrowhead-shaped marks ;belly cream with indistinct lateral spots. inhabits forests, as well as disturbed habitats , such as parks and gardens , and may enter houses.A ground-dwelling species, it inhabits the leaf litter of the forest floor, and also the crevices of rocks and tree holes . Both diurnal and nocturnal, although most activities are during the day or on cool rainy nights. Diet comprises small rodents , lizards and reptile eggs. elongate eggs, numbering 4-9, measuring 36*10mm, are produced. Wide spread in peninsular India , besides Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Inland Taipan

1) Fierce Snake or Inland Taipan (Oxyuranus microlepidotus ), Australia. The most toxic venom of any snake. Maximum yield recorded (for one bite) is 110mg. That would porbably be enough to kill over 100 people or 250,000 mice. With an LD50 of 0.01 mg/kg, it is about 10 times as venomous as a Mojave rattlesnake and 750 times as venomous as a common cobra. The Fierce Snake is native to the arid regions of central Australia, extending from the southeast part of the Northern Territory, and into west Queensland. The Fierce Snake can also be found north of Lake Eyre and to the west of the split of the Murray River, Darling River and Murrumbidgee River. Fierce Snakes are known to live in holes, and feed on small rodents such as mice and rats. Despite its name, Fierce Snakes are not known to be particularly aggressive, but docile. They will strike if provoked, however, injecting their incomparably toxic venom.No fatalities have been attributed to this species, and all known bites have been to people who keep them in captivity or actively seek them out in the wild.