GOOD NOTES

1. POISONOUS SNAKES AND
NON-POISONOUS SNAKES IN
INDIA
REG NO : P21ZOO1014
N MOHANRAJ M.sc.,(ZOO)
I M.sc Zoology
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY
PERIYAR UNIVERSITY
SALEM-11

2.  Snakes are Reptiles, Belonging to the Order OPHIDIA.
 There are About 3000 Living Species of Snakes in the world
 These 300 Species are Poisonous
 According to the estimates of WORLD HEALTH
ORGANIZATION(WHO), About 30,000 to 40,000 Persons
Die of Snake Bite Every Year in the world.
 In india about 7000 to 12,000 Persons die of Snake
Bite Every year.
 The Main Poisonous snakes found in South India are
The VIPERS,COBRAS,KRAITS,CORAL SNAKES,SEA SNAKES.

3. IDENTIFICATION OF
POISONOUS SNAKES
 The Nature Of the SNAKE BITE
 The Nature Of the TAIL
 The Nature Of the VENTRALS
 The Nature Of the HEAD SHIELDS
 The Nature Of the SUB-CAUDAL SCALES
 The Nature Of the VERTEBRALS

4. THE NATURE OF THE
SNAKES BITE
A. When a Poisonous snakes Bites, There
will be TWO PUNCTURES or Only ONE
PUNCTURES or Jest a Scratch on the
Skin of the Victim. If a Non Poisonous
Snakes Bites, There will be many
Punctures on the Skin.
B. If a poisonous snake bites There will Be
a continuous Flow Of Blood from The
wound. The venom Prevents The Clotting
Of Blood. If a Non Poisonous snakes
Bites The Flow of blood is stopped After
Sometimes owing to the Clotting of blood.

5. THE NATURE OF THE TAIL
 If the Tail Of a snakes is
Flat, Laterally Compressed
and oar-Shaped, It is a Sea
Snake and is Highly
Poisonous.
 If The Tail Is Cylindrical
and pointed, it may be
poisonous or Non
Poisonous.

6. THE NATURE OF THE VENTRALS
 If the tail is cylindrical The
ventrals (Scales on the ventral
side of the trunk) are
Examined.
 If The ventrals are norrow, it
is a Non Poisonous Snakes
 If The ventrals are Broad
extending across the belly, it
may be Poisonous or Non
poisonous.

7. THE NATURE OF THE HEAD SHIELDS
 If the Ventrals are Borad, the Head shields are
examined.
 A. If the head is covered with small scales and not
with shields ,it is a viper and is very Poisonous. The
viper may be pit viper or Pitless viper.
 PIT VIPER: The head Has small scales. A loreal pit is
present between eye and the Nostril. It is highly
Poisonous
 PITLESS VIPER: The Head has small scales, but
without any loreal pit . It has a double sub-caudal.
 If The Head is covered with Shields may be
poisonous or Non Poisonous.

9. THE NATURE OF THE VERTEBRALS
 If the Vertebrals are large, it is a krait and is highly Poisonous.
 In addition The KRAIT has the only four infralabials of which the
Fourth is the largest. The sub-caudals are single EX: bangarus
 If the vertebrals are not large examine the supralabial shields. If the
3ed supralabial touches the nasal shield and the eye it is a cobra. The
cobra is identified by a NECK with a HOOD.
 Coral snakes have cylindrical tail and elongated broad ventrals. The
head is covered with shields and not scales. The vertebrals are small
and elongated. Peculiar marking are present on the belly.

10. BANGARUS
SNAKE HIGHLY
POISONOUS

11. SNAKE VENOM
 Snakes Venom a Poison Secreted by the Poison Appartus.
 It is a Clear, Sticky fluid with Yellow or green colour.
 It is a complex mixture of enzymes and toxins

12. EFFECT OF VENOM
NEUROTOXIN
 The Venom Which Affected the
Nervous system is called
NEUROTOXIN. It is affects the
Optic nerve Causing Blindness,
the Phrenic nerve causing
Respiratory Paralysis and the
nerves of the Jews causing the
locking of jews.
EX : Venom of cobra, Krait and
Sea snakes
HEAMOTOXIN
 The Venom Which Affected The
Circulatory system is called
HEAMOTOXIN. It is Break down the
RBC and destroys the Endothelium
of the Smaller Blood vessels,
causing bleeding in to tissues and
the Coagulation of the blood there.
Most Venoms have both Neurotoxic
and Heamotoxic effects.
EX : Venom of Viper

14. POISONOUS
SNAKES

15. NAJA NAJA
(COMMON INDIAN COBRA)
 It lives in burrows, deserted hills Of Termites, heaps of Stones and
Stacks of wood.
 It is brown or black in colour and grows to a length of 6 feet.
 It feeds on Frogs, lizards, rats and small birds.
 It is a Highly Poisonous. The Poison is a Neurotoxic. The Poison of a
single Cobra can kill persons At a Time.
 It Has a two poison Glands and two fangs.

16.  It cannot Hear air Borne Sounds but can hear earth Borne sounds. The cobra dances to
the flute of a snake charmer. The dance is not in response to the Music of the Flute. But it Is
in Response to the swaying of the Flute by the snake charmer. This is becaues the Cobra fixes
its eyes on the flute and as the Snake charmer sways his flute, the cobra also sways its head
and this we call Dance.
 The cobra are Oviparous. The Female lays 12-13 soft shelled eggs and the female
incubates.

18. NAJA HANNAH
(KING COBRA RAJA NAHAM)
 IT IS THE LARGEST POISONOUS SNAKE IN THE WORLD.
 Growing to a Length of 18 Feet.
 It is dark brown or Dark Black in Colour.
 Dark Cross bands are Present On the Body.
 It feeds On Non-Poisonous Snakes.
 The venom Causes Quick Death Because Of its large Quantity.

20. BUNGARUS
(KRAIT KATTU VIRIAN)
 Bungarus is commonly called Krait.
 It is Highly Poisonous and the Poison is a Neurotoxin affecting the Respiratory
system.
 It is Necturnal in Habit and very often comes near Human Dwellings.
 The body is Steel black in Colour with thin White cross Bands. The Neck and head
are without Cross Bands.
 It Grows to a Length Of Four feet.
 It feeds on Toads, mice and Small snakes.
 The Head is covered with Shields.

21. VIPERA RUSSELLI(RUSSEL VIPER KANNADI VIRIAN)
 Commonly Known as Russell’s Viper or Pitless Viper.
 It is Highly poisonous and the poison is a Heamotoxin.
 It is Necturnal In Habit.
 It is Grows to a Length Of Five Feet.
 It is Brown in Colour with Three Longitudinal rows of Diamond shaped spots on the dorsal side. Each
Spots is Black in colour and Bordered with white.
 These give a Beautiful Look to the Snake.
 Eyes with Golden iris are Present
 The Head is covered with Scales.
 It is Viviparous Giving Birth to 30-40 Youngones at a time.
 carivoroous feed on mice rate, liyards and Frogs.s

22. HYDROPHIS
 Hydrophis is commonly called Sea snake. It Lives in the Bay Of Bengal.
 It Swims in the Sea Water.
 It is Highly Poisonous.
 The Poison is a Neurotoxic.
 The Colour is Dark Olive green Above with Yellowish Cross Bars White below.
 Scales over the Body are small
 It is Carnivorous In Habit.
 It is Viviparous.

23. NON-POISONOUS SNAKES

24. INDIAN RAT SNAKE
• Indian rat snake also termed as “Oriental rat snake” belongs to the colubrid snake
species. This snake can thrive in almost any environment though they prefer urban
areas, where their most desired prey “rat” is easily available. Locals also call them
Dhaman Snake.
• Dhaman snakes are one of the longest and fast-moving snakes found in India.
• Dhaman snake is non-poisonous.
• Newborn- 32-47cm.
Average length- 210cm (7ft).
Maximum length- 350cm (11ft & 6inch)

26. CAT SNAKE
Cat snakes can be easily identified due to their triangular head structure which is
broader than their neck.
Being a nocturnal species, they showcase activity from early night to early morning.
They are also known as Indian gamma snake.
This is colubrid snake is mostly found in high altitudes, near the Himalayas and some
areas of Maharashtra.
Cat snakes mostly feed on lizards, frogs, rodents as well as other snakes but they are
not poisonous.
• Average length- 70cm.
Maximum length- 125cm.

28. INDIAN ROCK PYTHON
• Broadly known as ‘Ajgar’, Indian Rock Python can be found on grasslands, swamps
as well as rocky places.
• Their natural habitat is from the eastern Himalayas to the mangrove forests of
Sundervans
• They are excellent swimmers and water is their second home.
• The Indian python is also known to crush their victims, which includes warm-blooded
mammals, birds and reptiles.
• Newborn- 40-45cm.
Average length- 210-360cm (7ft-12).
Maximum length- 750cm (25ft).

30. COMMON SEND BOA
• Belonging to Boa species, Sand Boa is referred to as ‘do-muha’ snake in Hindi due to
the resemblance of its tail to its head.
• They are mostly found in agricultural lands, garden, rat holes, brick piles and rock
piles.
• Their diet consists of rodents, small mammals, birds and geckos.
• Their bite is not venomous.
• Newborn- 12.5cm.
Average length-50cm.

32. COMMON WOLF SNAKE
The Common Wolf Snake is a species of the well-known colubrid snakes.
 These are most commonly seen in the Andaman Islands.
They feed on rodents, skinks, and geckos.
Moreover, their preference is to hide under heavy objects or in narrow cracks.

33. THANKING YOU