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 Cobra: Naja naja Linnaeus

Habit : Diurnal.

Habitat : Fields, forests, termite hills, rat holes.

Diagnostic Characters : Colour variable, generally brownish to blackish. Head not very distinct from the neck, dilatable into a hood, the anterior ribs being elongate. A monocle or spectacle mark or no mark present on the hood. Eyes moderate, pupil round. Scales smooth, in 19-25 rows, no occipital shields.

Global Distribution : Africa, Malaysia, Southern Asia.

Regional Distribution : Throughout India.

Status : Lower risk-near threatened.

 
   

 

Common krait: Bungarus caeruleus Schneider
 

Habit : Nocturnal, carnivorous, terrestrial (mainly).

Habitat : Fields, low scrub jungle, human habitation, frequently near or in water.

Diagnostic Characters : Length usually less than 2 m. Black or bluish-black above with narrow white cross-bars, which are least distinct on the anterior part of the body, or entirely absent. The eyes are small and very dark which makes the pupil almost invisible.

Global Distribution : Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.

Regional Distribution: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh.

Status : Lower risk-near threatened. 

 
   

 

Russell's viper: Vipera russelli Shaw

Habit : Nocturnal.

Habitat : Dry and semi-arid tracts and open country.

Diagnostic Characters: Body length 3-4 feet but occasionally can reach 6 feet. Scales in 27-33 rows, supranasal strongly crescentic. Snout obtuse, with distinct canthus, nostrils very large. Light brown above, with 3 longitudinal series of large rounded or oval spots, which are usually brown in the centre, have a black margin and are edged again with white.

Global Distribution: Burma, India, Indo-China, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.

Regional Distribution:  Throughout India.

Status : Lower risk-near threatened.

 
   

 

Sawscaled Viper: Echis carinatus Schneider

Habit : Terrestrial.

Habitat : Scrub to desert.

Diagnostic Characters : Pale brown or greyish or sandy above with a vertebral series of pale dark edged spots which are connected on each side with a light inverted-U or inverted-V shaped mark enclosing a dark area, these spots are usually more or less connected with one another and form an undulating light line along the side of the body. A cruciform mark on top of the head, behind the eyes. Whitish below, uniform or spotted with brown.

Global Distribution : Endemic to India.

Regional Distribution : Central and Southern India.

Status : Lower risk-near threatened.