Snake, common name for an elongated, limbless reptile of the order Squamata, which also includes the x lizards . Most snakes live on the ground, but some are burrowers, arboreal, or aquatic; one group is exclusively marine. In temperate climates they hibernate. They are generally solitary in their habits, although they may congregate in places offering food or shelter, and large numbers may hibernate together. Snakes range in length from about 4 in. (10 cm) to over 30 ft (9 m).  In most snakes limbs are entirely lacking, but a few have traces of hind limbs. The skin, which is covered with horny scales, is shed, usually several times a year. The extremely long, narrow body is associated with distinctive internal features. The number of vertebrae is much larger than in most vertebrates, paired internal organs are arranged linearly rather than side by side, and only one lung is developed, except in members of the boa family, which have two lungs. Presented By- Aseem Madhur, Juhi Ranjan, Shalini Jalan, Shreya Podder.

1. SNAKES |MISUNDERSTOOD REPTILES

2. Let’s know a bit about them
Kingdom
• Animalia
Phylum
• Chordata
Subphylum
• Vertebrata
Class
• Reptilia
Order
• Squamata
Suborder
• Serpentes/Ophedia
(Venomous)
Scientific Classification
Snake, common name for an elongated,
limbless reptile of the order Squamata, which
also includes the x lizards . Most snakes live on
the ground, but some are burrowers, arboreal,
or aquatic; one group is exclusively marine. In
temperate climates they hibernate. They are
generally solitary in their habits, although they
may congregate in places offering food or
shelter, and large numbers may hibernate
together. Snakes range in length from about 4
in. (10 cm) to over 30 ft (9 m).
In most snakes limbs are entirely lacking, but a
few have traces of hind limbs. The skin, which is
covered with horny scales, is shed, usually
several times a year. The extremely long,
narrow body is associated with distinctive
internal features. The number of vertebrae is
much larger than in most vertebrates, paired
internal organs are arranged linearly rather
than side by side, and only one lung is
developed, except in members of the boa
family, which have two lungs.

3. Anatomy of snake

4. Average of
46000
Indians get
killed every
year due to
snake bite
Living snakes
are found in
all islands
except
Antartica
There are
270 species
of snakes in
India, out of
which about
60 are
highly
venomous.
Earliest
snake fossils
date back to
165 millions
year old
Snakes are
hunted for
its medicinal
and
aesthetic
qualities.
Rat snake is
non-venomous
snake killed the
most due to
striking
resemblance to
cobra
India has four
major snake
parks at Pune,
Kannur,
chennai and
Bengaluru.
The King
Cobra is
the biggest
snake in India
with an avg.
length of 13-
15 ft.
Some Facts….

5. Geographical distribution
Snake are distributed in almost every corner of the world except Antarctica and Greenland.
Snakes depend on surrounding temperature and hence are cold blooded. They are amniotic,
carnivorous vertebrates with a worldwide distribution of approximately 3000 species. But only
about 600 species are snakes are reported to be venomous.

6. Snakes around jalukbari
Total No. of houses surveyed- 10
Indian Rat SnakeBanded Krait
Monocled CobraKing Cobra
Checkered Keelback
Burmese Python

7. Snakes spaces around jalukbari

8. 13%
22%
30%
9%
9%
17%
% of households who spotted particular snake
Monochled cobra
Banded Krait
Indian Rat Snake
Burmese python
King Cobra
Checkered Keelback
•Most common snake spotted was water snake present in the smaller wetlands located
around the houses.
•Burmese python being the biggest snake spotted around comes down from the foothills
behind AEC Girl’s hostel and Ayurvedic college.
•Very few snakes have been recorded to be killed during a conflict and Guwahati zoo
officials are informed generally for further necessary action.
Snakes around jalukbari

9. Monocled cobra:
Pheti xaap
Naja kaouthia
Max length - 2.30 m
•Head is recognisable from the rest of the
body, colour of body is brownish or black.
• Abdominal area has smoky grey or black
scales.
•When disturbed the hood is broadened
while raising.
Characteristics and habitat –
•Nocturnal creature, sometimes active during day also.
•Habitat in paddy fields, small grasslands.
•Usually stays in termite hills or mice holes.
Food - Mice, Frog, small snakes and fish
Note - Venomous snake, North east India max deaths due to
snake bites is responsible to monocled cobra. It is called as "
Farmers friend" coz it controls population of mice by eating
them.
MONOCLED cobra

10. King cobra
Roja pheti
Ophiophagus hannah
Max length - 5.85 m
•Head recognisable and bigger than body .
•The scales shape on head are bigger and
dark black than the rest of the body.
•Body is black or olive green colour.
•Horizontal white stripes on the body.
Characteristics and habitat –
•Diurnal creature
•Terrestrial creature, Evergreen and deciduous forest, Terai region
•Can climb trees and expert swimmers.
•Only snake species that makes nest out of dried fallen leaves.
Food - other snake species, mice and monitor lizard.
Note - world's longest and venomous snake. king Cobra is less
venomous than monochoel cobra but has more quantity of
venom in it.
It manages the balance of food chain by feeding on other snakes.
King cobra

11. Banded Krait :
Xonkhosur (Guwala xaap, Du mukhiya
xaap-double faced)
Bungarus fasciatus
Max length - 2.25 m
•The head is slightly broad than the neck.
•Eyes small, tail short and blunt.
•Presence of rib throughout the body and neck.
•Horizontal white black/yellow stripes in the
entire body.
•The colour of the head is black with a symbol of
inverted ' v ' which is yellowish in colour is present.
Habitat and characteristics
• Nocturnal, coward and shy in nature.
•Bites rarely. When scared , coils up and try to hide its
head and sometimes it jumps.
Stays near water bodies, back garden, Farmlands, pile
of rocks.
Lays 4-14 eggs in the month of April
Food - Other snakes, lizards, other small mammals.
Note- Venomous, but rare cases of where a human
being would die due to its bite.
Banded Krait

12. •Conservation - Eastern Ghats "Save the snakes“-initiative under " Pollination Project “
King Cobra was listed vulnerable under IUCN Red list of threatened species, has been
selected as ambassador.
Causes - Indiscriminate killing, poaching and road kills. Also habitat loss and degradation.
STS aims to build capacity within local tribes of Eastern Ghats through education ventures,
empowered citizen scientists who would eventually deal with the human snake interactions
more effectively and also assist in their conservation.
80% of snakes in Eastern Ghats area are non poisonous and harmless even if they bite. The
venomous ones are - Common cobras, banded Krait, Russell vipers, Bamboo pit vipers.
Awareness programme -
Kanti Mahanti Murthy representative of Eastern Ghats Wildlife Society and STS said
"The initiative aims to improve the livelihoods of people who live in areas with high
incidence of conflict with snakes and educate the locals to minimise rampant killing
of the reptiles of Eastern Ghats."
'Para ecologist' - local people who could continue the conversation activities in their
respective villages irrespective of the project period or expiry.
- Indigenous local knowledge
- Proper training in snake handling
- Field surveys to assess species distribution
Conservation-save the snakes

13. Herpetologists around

20. Threats to humans
India being a country
higly vulnerable to
human-snake conflict,
the number of
deaths/Casualties are
maximum around the
villages.
One of the main
reasons to such a
conflict is settling of
snakes around human
settlements in search
of rodents.
The official records
however, lack in
proper record keeping
of the casualties
around the country.

21. In the case of venomous snakes like
cobras, the fangs are crudely
extracted, and the venom glands
are painfully gouged out or
punctured, thus disabling the
snake’s only means of defence,
feeding, and digestion, essentially
condemning it to a slow,
excruciating death. Non-venomous
snakes are not spared either, and
have their mouths stitched shut,
making it impossible for them to
eat..
The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972
bans, and has a prison sentence
for, any form of trapping, snaring,
capturing, or even hunting of
snakes, and using them for display
and entertainment.
Snake Charmers
Venom black market Snake Skin in Fashion
Threats to snakes
Loss of Biodiversity

22. •According to the current laws the maximum punishment for murdering an endangered
species like a King Cobra is three to seven years in jail and a fine of ten thousand rupees
for first offence and twenty five thousand for second offence. And offences related to
trade and commerce in animal trophies, articles derived from certain animals will result
in a maximum punishment of three year imprisonment and fine upto Rs. 25,000/- I am
sure, you will agree that this is not a deterrent enough and the wildlife crime syndicates
are able to easily get people to work in their channels.
Snakes under Schedule II
•Python
•Checkerd keelback
•Rat Snake
•Dog faced Water Snake
•Spectacled Cobra
•Monocled Cobra
•Central Asian Cobra
•Andaman Cobra
•King Cobra
•Olive Keelback Water Snake
•Russel’s Viper
INDIAN WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT,1972