Reptile Rap Newsletter of the South Asian Reptile Network ISSN 2230-7079 No.14 | June 2012 Date of Publication: 04 June 2012

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Reptile Rap Newsletter of the South Asian Reptile Network ISSN 2230-7079 No.14 | June 2012 Date of publication: 04 June 2012

Contents

The conservation of Indian reptiles: an approach with molecular aspects -- V.M. Sathish Kumar, Pp. 2–8

Records of Indian Egg Eater Snake Elachistodon westermanni in the localities of Shegaon, District Buldhana, Maharashtra, India -- Abhishek Narayanan, Pp. 9–12

An observation on death of Python Python molurus feeding on a male Spotted Deer Cervus axis -- Mohnish Kapoor, Pp. 13–14

Herpetofauna of the Vidyanagari campus of the University of Mumbai, Maharashtra -- Madhav V. Upadhye, Vinayak V. Puranik, Prasad Dabholkar & Ujwala Jadhav, Pp. 15–20

Herpetofaunal diversity in and around the selected man-made wetlands of central and northern Gujarat, India -- Raju Vyas, B.M. Parasharya & J.J. Jani, Pp. 21–26

A Malabar Pit Viper, Trimeresurus malabaricus (Jerdon, 1854) morph from the southern Western Ghats -- Arun Kanagavel, Rajkumar Sekar, Nikhil Whitaker & Rajeev Raghavan, Pp. 27–28

Sightings of King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah in northern coastal Andhra Pradesh -- K.L.N. Murthy & K.V. Ramana Murthy, Pp. 29–32

First record of Slender Coral Snake Calliophis melanurus (Shaw, 1802) south of the Palghat Gap, Western Ghats -- G. Shine & P.O. Nameer, Pp. 33–35

UGC Sponsored Major Research Project on Herpetofauna, P. 36

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1 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 The conservation of Indian reptiles: an and conservation efforts. approach with molecular aspects In addition, the genetic information required for V.M. Sathish Kumar extensive systematic revisions for most genera is lacking. Southern Regional Centre, 130 Santhome High Road, Zoological Survey of India, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600028, India The introduction of “New Email: [email protected] Systematics” by Huxley (1940) and Mayr (1942) made/helped zoologists Taxonomy and as alpha taxonomy with the realise the importance of other Conservation conventional outlook is yet to characters to supplement the India’s colossal biological absorb the modern molecular morphological characters for diversity can be credited to trends in systematics and precise identification. This the vast array of ecological conservation. A large number is very significant for the habitats ranging from tropical, of Institutions and Museums identification of unknown sub-tropical, temperate, in the country suffer from lack biological material when alpine to desert. According of funding resources to pursue using a combination of to the World Biodiversity various molecular researches evidences (morphology, Classification, India and many of the species behaviour, molecules, etc.) represents two biodiversity predicted to be taxonomically instead of relying on one- hotspots (Western Ghats enigmatic, or similar to known dimensional taxonomy (Bond and northeastern India) and species are still awaiting & Sierwald 2003; Seberg has the richest vertebrate formal detection using modern et al. 2003; Lee 2004; Will fauna in Asia. According techniques. The Zoological & Rubinoff 2004). Several to Ramakrishana & Alfred Survey of India, the premier recent studies have applied (2006), the reptile fauna of institution, has played an mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) India consists of about 460 important role in promoting markers in phylogeographic species; with 244 snakes, 178 animal systematics in the studies to geographically lizards, three crocodiles, and country. But the National widespread taxa to determine 35 turtles. Among these, 33 Zoological Collection housed at distinctive and unrecognized are considered threatened. the Zoological Survey of India evolutionary lineages (e.g., Das (2003) reported 506 which holds the largest reptile Avise et al. 1992; Zamudio et species within the political collections in the country al. 1997). Also, elucidation boundaries of the Republic of dates back to the early part of of phylogenetic relationships India. Aengals et al. (2011) the 19th century; has yet to be among closely-related taxa accounted 518 species of fully entered into electronic is critical to correctly infer reptiles which includes 3 databases. The Indian Wildlife a taxon (e.g. Arnold 1993; species of crocodiles, 34 Protection Act (1972) that Harvey et al. 1996; Roderick species of turtles and tortoises, legally denies permission to & Gillespie 1998). 202 species of lizards and 279 export any biological sample Taxonomic studies by species of snakes belonging materials outside India also means of molecular techniques to 28 families. Molur & hinders the research activities have contributed significantly Walker (1998) accounted of other developed countries to our perceptive of lineages about 95 endemic reptile on Indian reptile groups. contained by species or taxa in the Western Ghats Moreover, most species are species groups. They have of which 62 are reported known from very few localities endorsed for revisions of as vulnerable. However, and from few adults; a situation taxonomically difficult groups, the information on Indian that impedes both traditional often revealing unrecognized reptiles is still introductory taxonomic advancement taxa and smoothened the

2 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 progress of recognition of worked out for taxa occurring Painted Turtles Chrysemys isolated or distinctive lineages. in Europe and America than picta present an additional Molecular systematics the tropics. Therefore, some outstanding prospect to through PCR amplification and of the current names for explore the question of species sequencing makes the use of tropical taxa could be the first boundaries within a widespread various molecular techniques: approximation to a complex species complex. According such as allozyme, isozyme, biological reality. The to Bishop & Schmidt (1931), mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to sampling of subspecies within the genus Chrysemys as provide information on the ge a species does not promise currently recognized contains netics of wide-ranging species the sampling of significant a single extant species, or species groups in isolated variation. Phylogenetic C. picta. Four subspecies habitat. Therefore, molecular studies of congeneric species are generally recognized: techniques are crucial for should therefore be shared Chrysemys picta bellii, C.p. studies in phylogeography, with phylogeographic surveys dorsalis, C.p. marginata, and because it is “the field of study of haplotype dissimilarity, C.p. picta. Thus, decisions concerned with the principles so that the monophyly of regarding species and and processes of genealogical populations of a putative subspecies boundaries can, lineages, especially those species with respect to others and do have dramatic impacts within and among closely- can be tested. on species conservation and related species” as stated by As stated by Ball & Avise management (Shaffer et al. Avise (2000). Such studies (1992), the discussion about 2000). can be carried out with Indian the levels of intraspecific After almost three lizard families Gekkonidae or interspecific variation centuries of herpetological and Lacertidae as its exact necessary to distinguish work in India, a good number phylogeny has not fully been species and subspecies limits of research papers have been established yet. Also, with has received considerable published. Though, the main mtDNA sequence, data, we notice in the last several comprehensive works would can investigate the systematic decades. Several current indisputably have been by relationships within genera or studies that have discussed Malcolm A. Smith, and there species by using the rapidly the border line among inter is no wonder that it took more evolving control region of and intraspecific variation have than twelve years for him to the mitochondrial genome. utilised molecular information, produce these three separate Because it has proven reliable mostly to test existing volumes on Indian reptiles. in resolving intraspecific hypotheses of species-level Smith (1931) systematically variation in many vertebrates relationships and boundaries. placed the crocodiles and including turtles (Stewart & At the same time, a number turtles in Volume I, the lizards Baker 1994; Encalada et al. of formerly documented in Volume II (1935), and the 1996; Shaffer & McKnight subspecies genetically match snakes in Volume III (1943). 1996), accurately identifies though morphologically These precious classics closely related emydid turtle they overlap, implying that have long been regarded as species (Lamb et al. 1994). they probably should not be fundamental references in the Besides, animal genome data recognized at any taxonomic library of any herpetologist with potentially endless supply level. Parallel work on the interested in Indian regions. of evolutionary and systematic snake Pituophis melanoleucus Further contributions were information can obviously be points that the conventional made by Tiwari & Biswas used to infer species diagnosis, outlook suggested by Conant (1973), Sharma (1977, 1978, description and identification. (1956) for the single polytypic 1981, 1998, 2002, 2007), Consequently, the taxonomy species is conflicting with Murthy (1985, 1994, 2010), of most organisms is better the molecular evidence, and Das (1991, 1994, 1996, 1997

3 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 a&b, 2003), Tikedar & Sharma according to biological species very apparent as they are (1992), Das & Bauer (2000), concept, the whole group terrestrial. Forest species are Das & Sengupta (2000), is to be placed and treated more vulnerable due to their Daniel (2002), Whitaker & under a complex species. lack of ability to resist the Captain (2004), Gower & Since many subspecies are high temperatures of open Winkler (2007), Manamendra- not distinct species, they are formations. Most common Arachchi et al. (2007), reproductively compatible and and widely distributed species Mukherjee and Bhupathy will periodically interbreed with are more resistant, but many (2007), Sharma (2007), adjacent subspecies. These will disappear when their Thorpe et. al. (2007), Giri breeds pose several problems habitats are totally eliminated. (2008), Giri & Bauer (2008), to the evolutionary zoologist Moreover, people fear or Das & Vijayakumar (2009), and could be misidentified as dislike snakes; they tend to Giri et al. (2009a), Giri et a new species adding up to be killed whenever they are al. (2009b), Mahony (2009, more confusion. This could seen. 2010), Pook et al. (2009), be because the zoologists Crocodiles and turtles van Rooijen & Vogel (2009), confined their studies are hunted for their meat Zambre et al. (2009), Haralu mainly to the morphological and eggs. Construction of (2010) and Venugopal (2010). characters, ignoring the hydroelectric dams alters the Today, about 518 species of detailed analysis of the entire habitat in the area of reptiles which includes three interspecific and intergeneric the reservoir, thus should be species of crocodiles, 34 breeds and most of their treated as a real local threat. species of turtles and tortoises, descriptions were based on Even as animals run away, 202 species of lizards and 279 single “type” specimens. large numbers are rescued species of snakes belonging Members of a subspecies and dumped in nearby forests, to 28 families (Aengals et al. share a unique geographical even though the impacts on 2011) are found in India. The range or habitat, a group the ecology and biology of the poorly resolved taxonomies of recognizable genetically nearby populations are mostly among some families (e.g. controlled characteristics, unknown as stated by Pavan Uropeltidae, Agamidae) has morphological or molecular, (2002). Dams are likely to created some confusion in and a unique natural history cause huge potential impacts Indian reptile taxonomy as compared to other on the reproductive biology than in other vertebrates of subspecies. Accordingly, of the turtle and crocodile the more complex groups those who adhere to purely populations downstream and and numerous new species morphological species concept on the population formation sit in laboratories/collection should also refer to the of lizards and snakes even halls awaiting more detailed genetic characteristics before though these impacts may studies based on genetic assigning any taxonomic status not be instantly evident. data. The recent taxonomic to the sample. However, bear The smaller forest reptiles revisions have elevated the in mind that all subspecies are very vulnerable to mi number of endemic uropeltid have the potential to suitable croclimate changes. Agro species to 47 (based on adaptations to their specific chemicals are another major morphology). For instance, ecological habitat and also threat and may be especially David (2003) stated that the have the potential to evolve serious in small protected taxonomy of uropeltids is in to a new species. areas surrounded by agricul unstable and is likely to be tural land. The long-term substantially revised in future. Principal threats effects of these threats need For such groups, interspecific Habitat alteration is the to be understood in order to hybridisation could be major threat. The impacts delineate appropriate conser very common. Therefore, on lizards and snakes are vation strategies. Therefore,

4 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 monitoring of reptile populations currently isolated should also include finding populations is essential in are of great interest for setting out the effects of geographic situations such as these. priorities for taxa as well as barriers, such as larger protected areas. rivers, mountains or national Threatened species Many publications claiming highways which could restrict Indian reptiles are a poorly- to address the conservation of the movements of reptiles studied group since information Indian reptiles communicate between populations, thus regarding distribution, little or nothing about the usage preventing any genetic population dynamics and most of molecular techniques with exchange between them. The of the information available is regard to reptile conservation; absence of data is not a firm from only a few well-studied hence there is a broad lack of basis for being indifferent to locations. Owing to the genetic data, which could lead claims of reptilian declines. widespread destruction of to inadequate systematics One simple response is to India’s natural vegetation and ending up with taxonomic call for immediate monitoring landscapes, Ramakrishana revision of many taxa. In programs, but this requires & Alfred (2006) reported 33 some ways, the current additional consideration of, reptiles species as threatened level of knowledge of reptile for example, how monitoring category. Gavialis gangeticus population is very significant should be undertaken and is critically endangered while even though the causes of which species and habitats the other two crocodile reptile declines have been should be investigated. To species; Crocodylus porosus made without clear evidence begin to address these and Crocodylus palustris and few suggestions about questions, more fundamental are threatened. The turtles how to progress. Therefore, research in reptilian biology is (Dermochelys coriacea, the current situation of needed. In particular, genetic- Dermochelys imbricate, reptile conservation in India based research will improve Chelonia mydas, Lepidochelys needs special attention with the knowledge of reptilian olivacea, Batagur baska) further advanced research. biology and will dramatically are threatened from To overcome these problems, increase the chances of overexploitation and numerous the application of molecular identifying instances of other threats, such as habitat data is requisite to explore possible decline that merit destruction, predation of its the accurate species limits. dedicated study. Species that eggs and the slaughter of Nearly all known Indian have not been reported for nesting adults or flesh by reptiles probably occur in many years, often since their man. The monitor lizards are protected areas, even though initial description, should be also listed as threatened and the mere protection of a the main concern for accurate vulnerable. single population is obviously and precise revisions of insufficient to maintain conservation-status data. Conclusion the genetic variability in The key in conservation Morphology when the species’ component assessment is to find out supplemented with more populations. To improve isolated or patchy populations refined genetic data is essential representation, we need in order to formulate for a better understanding of a better understanding of conservation strategies. the dynamics of population in their distributions - strategic Therefore, gaining an a highly fragmented habitat. field surveys and complete understanding of diversity pat Unfortunately, as of today electronic databases with terns, monitoring the genetic there is no reported use of adequate genetic information variability of populations in extensive genetic studies of are vital (Graham et al. 2004) fragments, and comparing Indian reptiles to uncover for the conservation future of them to populations isolated the divergence patterns of these animals. Researches at different times in the

5 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 past would be invaluable phylogeographic differentia- of the reptiles of South Asia. contributions to conservation tion among avian populations Krieger Publishing Company, of Indian reptiles. Although, and the evolutionary signifi- Florida,87pp+36pls. cance of subspecies. Auk 109: Das, I. (1997a). Checklist of the it was stated by the great 626–636. reptiles of India with English herpetologist Smith (1931) Bishop, S.C. & F.J.W. Schmidt common name. Hamadryad. “the herpetological fauna (1931). The painted turtles 22: 32–45. of the country is now well of the genus Chrysemys. Field Das, I. (1997b). A new species known”, even after three Museum of Natural History, of Cyrtodactylus from the quarters of a century we know Zoological Series 18: 123– Nicobar Islands India. Journal 139. of Herpetology 31(3): 375– little about the patterns and Bond, J.E. & P. Sierwald 382. processes responsible for the (2003). Molecular taxonomy Das, I. (2003). Growth of evolution and differentiation of the Anadenoblus excisus Knowledge on the Reptiles of of our reptile fauna. We are (Diplopoda: Spirobolida: India, with an Introduction still in the exploratory phase Rhinocricidae) species-group to Systematics, Taxonomy in terms of our understanding on the Caribbean island and Nomenclature. Journal of of Jamaica. Invertebrate the Bombay natural History of India’s reptile diversity, and Systematics 17: 515–528. Socety 100(2&3): 447–501. no area and no taxa should Conant, R. (1956). A review of Encalada, S.E., P.N. Lahanas, be regarded as having low two rare pine snakes from the K.A. Bjorndal, A.B. biological importance without Gulf Coastal Plain. American Bolten, M.M. Miyamoto exhaustive inventories and Museum Novitiates 1781: & B.W. Bowen (1996). field surveys. 1–31. Phylogeography and Daniel, J.C. (2002). The Book population structure of the of Indian Reptiles. Bombay Atlantic and Mediterranean References Natural History Society, green turtle Chelonia mydas: Bombay, 141pp. a mitochondrial DNA control Aengals, R.V.M., S. Kumar Das, I. & A.M. Bauer (2000). region sequence assessment. & M.J. Palot (2011). Two new species of Cnemaspis Molecular Ecology 5: 473– Updated checklist of Indian (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from 483. reptiles. http://zsi.gov.in/ southern India. Russian Giri, V.B. & M.A. Bauer. checklist/Checklist%20of%20 Journal of Herpetology 7(1): (2008). A new ground- Indian%20Reptiles.pdf 17–28. dwelling Hemidactylus Arnold, E.N. (1993). Historical Das, I. & S.P. Vijayakumar (Squamata: G e k k o n i d a e ) changes in the ecology and (2009). New species from Maharashtra with a key behaviour of semaphore geckos of Ptychozoon (Sauria: to the Hemidactylus of India. (Pristurus: Gekkonidae) and Gekkonidae) from the Nicobar Zootaxa 1700: 21–34. their relatives. Journal of Archipelago, Indian Ocean. Giri, V.B. (2008). A new Zoology 229: 353–384. Zootaxa 2095: 8–20. rock dwelling Hemidactylus Avise, J.C. (2000). Das, I. & S. Sengupta (2000). (Squamata: Gekkonidae) Phylogeography: The History A new species of Cnemaspis from Maharashtra, India. and Formation of Species. (Sauria: Gekkonidae) from Hamadryad 32: 25–33. Harvard University Press, Assam northeastern India. Giri, V.B., A.M. Bauer & K.S. Cambridge. Journal of South Asian Natural Gaikwad (2009b). A new Avise, J.C., B.W. Bowen, History 5(1): 17–24 ground-dwelling species T. Lamb, A.B. Meylan & Das, I. (1991). A new Species of Cnemaspis Strauch E. Bermingham (1992). of Mabuya from Tamil (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Mitochondrial DNA evolution Nadu State southern India the northern Western Ghats, at a turtle’s pace: Evidence (Squamata: S c i n c i d a e ) . Maharashtra, India. Zootaxa for low genetic variability and Journal of Herpetology 25(3): 2164: 49–60. reduced microevolutionary rate 342–344. Giri, V.B., A.M. Bauer, R. Vyas in the testudines. Molecular Das, I. (1994). The Reptiles & S. Patil (2009a). New Biology and Evolution 9: 457– of South Asia: Checklist Species of Rock-Dwelling 473. and distributional summary. Hemidactylus (Squamata: Ball, Jr, R.M. & J.C. Avise Hamadryad 19:15–40. Gekkonidae) from Gujarat, (1992). Mitochondrial DNA Das, I. (1996). Biogeography India. Journal of Herpetology

6 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 43(3): 385–393 Batuwita & R. Pethiyagoda phylogeography of Hawaiian Gower, D.J. & J.D. Winkler (2007). A taxonomic revision terrestrial arthropods. (2007). Taxonomy of of the Sri Lankan day- Molecular Ecology 7: 519– the Indian snake Xylophis geckos (Reptilia: Gekkonidae: 531. Beddome ( S e r p e n t e s : Cnemaspis), with description Seberg, O., C.J. Humphries & Caenophidia) with description of new species from Sri S. Knapp, D.W. Stevenson, of a new species. Hamadryad Lanka and southern India. G. Petersen, N. Scharff & 31(2): 315–329. Zeylanica 7(1): 9–122. N.M. Andersen (2003). Haralu, B. (2010). Nagaland Mayr, E. (1942). Systematics Shortcuts in systematics? A concerns and challenges. and the origin of species from commentary on DNA-based Indian Birds 6(2): 56–57. the viewpoint of a zoologist. taxonomy. Trends in Ecology Harvey P.H., A.J.L. Brown, Columbia University Press. and Evolution 18: 63–65. J.M. Smith & S. Nee (eds.). New York, 1–334. Shaffer, H.B. & M.L. McKnight (1996). New uses for new Molur, S. & S. Walker (eds.) (1996). The polytypic phylogenies. Oxford University (1998). Report of the species revisited: genetic Press, Oxford. workshop “Conservation differentiation and molecular Huxley, J.S. (ed.) (1940). assessment and Management phylogenetics of the tiger The New Systematics. Oxford plan for Reptiles of India” salamander Ambystoma University Press, London (BCPP-Endangered species tigrinum (Amphibia: Caudata) 1–538. project), Zoo Outreach complex. Evolution 50: 417– Lamb, T., C. Lydeard, R. Walker Organisation, Conservation 433. & J.W. Gibbons (1994). Breeding Specialist Group, Shaffer, H.B., G.M. Fellers, Molecular systematics of the India, Coimbatore, India. A. Magee & S.R. Voss map turtles (Graptemys): a 175pp. (2000). The genetics comparison of mitochondrial Mukherjee, D. & S. Bhupathy of amphibian declines: restriction site versus (2007). A new species Population substructure and sequence data. Systematic of wolf snake (Serpentes: molecular differentiation in the Biology 43: 543–599. Colubridae: Lycodon) from Yosemite Toad, Bufo canorus Lee, M.S.Y. (2004). The Anaikatti Hills, Western Ghats, (Anura, Bufonidae) based on molecularization of taxonomy. Tamil Nadu, India. Russian single-strand conformation Invertebrate Systematics 18: Journal of herpetology 14 polymorphism analysis 1–6. (1): 21–26. (SSCP) and mitochondrial Macey, R.J., J.A. Schulte, Murthy, T.S.N. (1985). DNA sequence data. Molecular A. Larson, Z. Fang, Y. Classification and distribution Ecology 9: 245–257. Wang, B.S. Tuniyev & of the Reptiles of India. The Sharma R.C. (1977). A new T.J. Papenfuss (1998). Snake 17: 48–71. lizard of the genus Riopa Phylogenetic relationships of Murthy, T.S.N. (1994). An Gray (Scincidae) from Tamil toads in the Bufo bufo species updated hand list of the Nadu, India. Records group from the eastern reptiles of India. Cobra 17: of the Zoological Survey of escarpment of the Tibetan 17–37. India 73(1–4): 41–44. Plateau: a case of vicariance Murthy, T.S.N. (2010). The Sharma, R.C. (1981). and dispersal. Molecular Reptile Fauna of India. Hemidactylus porbandarensis Phylogenetics and Evolution Published by B.R. Publishing a new geckonid lizard from 9: 80–87. Corporation, N e w Gujarat India. Bulletin of the Mahony, S. (2010). Systematic Delhi. Zoological Survey of India and taxomonic revaluation Pook, C.E., U. Joger, N. 4(1): 1–2. of four little known Asian Stümpel & W. Wüster Sharma, R.C. (1978). A new agamid species, Calotes (2009). When continents species of Phrynocephalus kingdonwardi Smith, 1935, collide: Phylogeny, historical Kaup (Reptilia: Agamidae) Japalura kaulbacki Smith, biogeography and systematic from the Rajasthan desert 1937, Salea k a k h i e n e n s i s of the medically important India with notes on its ecology. Anderson, 1879 and the viper genus Echis (Squamata: Bulletin of the Zoological monotypic genus Mictopholis Serpentes: Viperidae). Survey of India 1(3): 291– Smith, 1935 (Reptilia: Molecular Phylogenetics and 294. Agamidae). Zootaxa 2514: Evolution 53: 792–807. Sharma, R.C. (1998). 1–23. Roderick, G.K. & R.G. Gillespie Fauna of India and the Manamendra-Arachchi, K., S. (1998). Speciation and adjacent countries.– Reptilia

7 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 (Testudines and Crocodilia). Phylogeography of the Russell’s The Field Guide. Draco Books, Vol. I. (Published by the Viper (Daboia russelii) complex Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, Director, Zoological Survey of in relation to variation in the xiv+479, pls, text-figs. India, Kolkata), 196pp. colour pattern and symptoms Will, K.W. & A. Rubinoff Sharma, R.C. (2002). The fauna of envenoming. The Herpe- (2004). Myth of the of India and the Adjacent tological Journal 17(4): 209– molecule. DNA barcodes Countries. Reptilia (Sauria) - 218. for species cannot replace II. Published by the Director, Tikedar, B.K. & R.C. Sharma morphology for identification Zoological Survey of India, (1992). Handbook of Indian and classification. Cladistics Kolkata), 430pp. Reptiles. Zoological Survey of 20: 1–9. Sharma, R.C. (2007). The fauna India, Kolkota, 250pp+42pls. Zambre, A., C. Sheth, S. Dalvi of India and the adjacent Tiwari, K. & S. Biswas (1973). & N. Kulkarni (2009). First countries. Reptilia (Serpentes) Two new reptiles from the Record Of Protobothrops - III. Published by the Director, Great Nicobar Island. Journal jerdoni xanthomelas (Günther, Zoological Survey of India, of ZoologicalSociety of India 1889) from Eaglenest Wildlife Kolkata, 410pp. 25(1&2): 57–63. Sanctuary, India. Journal of Smith, M.A., (1931). The Fauna Rooijen, J.V. & G. Vogel the Bombay Natural History of British India, including (2009). A multivariate Society 106(2): 211–213. Ceylon and Burma. Vol. I - investigation into the Zamudio, K.R., K.B. Jones & Loricata, Testudines. Taylor population systematics of R.H. Ward (1997). Molecular & Francis, London, xxvii+ Dendrelaphis tristis (Daudin, systematics of short horned 185pp+2pl. 1803) and Dendrelaphis lizards: Biogeography and Smith, M.A. (1935). The Fauna schokari (Kuhl, 1820): taxonomy of a widespread of British India, including revalidation of Dendrophis species complex. Systematic Ceylonand Burma. Reptilia chairecacos Boie, 1827 Biology 46: 284–305. and Amphibia. Vol. II - Sauria. (Serpentes: Colubridae). The Zamudio, K.R. & H.W. Greene Taylor & Francis, London, Herpetological Journal 19: (1997). Phylogeography of xiii+440pp+1pl. 193–200. the bushmaster (Lachesis Smith, M.A. (1943). The Fauna Venugopal, P.D. (2010). muta: Viperidae): implications of British India, Ceylon and Addentum to An updated and for neotropical biogeography, Burma,including the whole annotated list of Indian lizards systematics and conservation. of the Indo-Chinese region. (Reptilia: Sauria) based on a Biological Journal of the Vol. III. Serpentes. Taylor & review of distribution records Linnean Society 62: 421– Francis, London, xii+583pp+1 and checklists of Indian 442. map. reptiles. Journal of Stewart, D.T. & A.J. Baker Threatened Taxa 2(4): 848. Acknowledgments (1994). Evolution of mtDNA Venugopal, P.D. (2010). An I am heartily grateful to D-loop sequences and their updated and annotated list Dr. K. Venkataraman, Director, use in phylogenetic studies of Indian lizards (Reptilia: Zoological Survey of India and of shrews in the subgenus Sauria) based on a review Dr. K. Rema Devi, Officer-in- Otrisorex (Sorex: Soricidae: of distribution records and Charge, Southern Regional Insectivora). Molecular Phy- checklist of Indian reptiles. Centre, Zoological Survey of logenetics and Evolution 3: Journal of Threatened India for providing support and 38–46. Taxa. 2(3):725–738. encouragement. Thorpe, R.S., C.E. Pook Whitaker, R. and Captain, & A. Malhotra (2007). A. (2004). Snakes of India.

8 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 Records of Indian Egg Eater Snake description is available in the Elachistodon westermanni in the localities existing literature (Khaire of Shegaon, District Buldhana, Maharashtra, 2010). India A snake was rescued late night at around 1100hr in Abhishek Narayanan the garden of a house in the locality of Shivaji Nagar, Project Coordinator, Rescue, Conservation and Education, Wildlife SOS 48, Ayodhya Nagar, Near Vatika, Shegaon, Buldhana, Maharashtra 444203, Shegaon, Maharashtra India (2109’43”N & 7904’ 47”E) by Email: [email protected] Karan Thakur of Snake Rescue Volunteers, a local NGO The following record is District of Maharashtra based working in the area of study. completely accidental and no on a dead specimen. Thirteen Being unable to identify the systemic survey technique or specimens (seven live, six snake on the first instance, search method was utilized dead) were recorded in and it was decided to keep the for the same. around Amravati District by snake for later identification The Indian Egg Eater Nande et al. (2007). Apart provisionally being identified Snake is the only snake of the from this there have been as an ‘Indian Egg Eater’ on genus Elachistodon recorded several unpublished records the basis of descriptive photos in the Indian subcontinent. the snake in certain localities given in the Handbook by As the name suggests, its of Vidharbha region of Khaire (2010). Till then the diet primarily consists of Maharashtra. Raju Vyas also snake was kept in a plastic eggs though not exclusively published some photographic translucent box with holes on (known to eat geckos in records in 2010 of this snake the lid and adequate hiding captivity) (Gans & Williams in Gujarat. Considered was provided. The snake 1954). Similar to its African extremely rare, and from was measured, photographed counterpart, a snake belonging isolated locations (as detailed and the scales counted. to genus Dyspeltis, it has in Table 1) it was considered The snake was identified as elongated inferior processes as one of the least found Indian Egg Eater Elachistodon of the anterior thoracic snake species on the Indian westermanni based on the vertebrae. They are not only subcontinent (Khaire 2010). holotype descriptions in the coated with enamel, but also Its behavior and habits are literature (Wall 1913; Gans & penetrate the esophagus, relatively unknown (Dandge Williams 1954; Rosenberg & which assists these snakes 2007), and only its diet and Gans 1976). For confirmation to break the egg shell inside the throat, and release the protein-rich yolk inside the Image 1. Top (Dorsal) head view of Elachistodon westermanni gut (Boulenger 1890). Indian Egg Eater Snake was thought to be extinct by Murthy et all. (1993). According to Malcolm smith et al. about five specimens were recorded until late 1943 from the areas surrounding Jalpaiguri District in northern Bengal Smith (1943). Captain et al. (2005) recorded it for the first time in Wardha

REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 Table 1. Locality distribution of Elachistodon westermanni.

No. of Author Period Locality Scalation data specimens Dorsal Ventral Subcaudal (Midbody) 1 Reinhardt 1863 Rangpur, Bangladesh 15 217 59 paired 1 (Holotype) 65 fide Blandford, 2 Blandford 1875 Purnea, Bihar, India 15 208 1 63 fide wall (1913) Near Mal, Jalpaiguri district, 3 Wall 1913 15 213 62 1 West Bengal, India

4 Rosenberg & Gans 1976 Rapti Dun, Chitwan, Nepal Not noted 210 58 1

5 Captain, A. et al. 2005 Wardha, Maharashtra, India 15 213 68 1

Amravati, Maharashtra, 13 (7 live + 6 6 Nande et al. 2007 15 214 69 India dead) Raju Vyas (Photographic 4 (3 live + 1 7 2006-07 Gujarat Not noted Not noted Not noted records) dead)

8 Balu Deshmukh Unpublished Akola, Maharashtra Not noted Not noted Not noted 2

9 Gajendra Surkar Unpublished Wardha Not noted Not noted Not noted 2

Abhishek Narayanan (Current Shegaon, Maharashtra, 10 2010 15 210 56 1 Work) India

the data was sent to Gerard neck becoming white specks small eyes and vertical pupils Martin, Bangalore, Varad from about mid-body (Image and a distinct oblique post- Giri, Mumbai, and Ashok 2). There is a continuous ocular streak. Frontal and Captain, Pune. The snake vertebral yellow band which parietal scales show black was released in the presence is prominent till anterior coloration over the brown of forest officials as it is under 1/3rd of the body becoming ground color 95 and 75 % Schedule I of the Wildlife discontinuous towards the respectively and form a cross Protection (Act) 1972, Traffic head. Tail is long and shows like pattern starting from the India (2010) in the forested prehensile ability. The internasals to the nape of areas close to the rescued head portion is narrow and the neck. Horizontal black location bearing similarities indistinct from the neck with band starts post ocular and in the habitat. The detailed description, scale counts and other Image 2. Lateral view showing head scales of Elachistodon westermanni measurements are tabulated (Table 2).

Morphological characters The specimen has an overall coloration as brown/tan with darker gradient towards the cephalic (head) end (Image 1). The underbelly is white in appearance beginning from about two dorsal scales adjacent to the ventral scales. Dorsally zigzag white cross bands start from the

Table 2. Scalation data of Elachistodon westermanni its neck and lift its upper Scalation pattern body off the ground ready

Number of ventrals 210 to strike (characteristic ‘S’ Number of subcaudals 56 pairs shaped position) (Image 4). (Like Trinket snakes and Number of dorsals 1 head-length behind the head 19 cat snakes). But became Number of dorsals at the position of the middle ventral 15 very calm when handled off Number of dorsals 1 head-length before the tail 19 ground. Head shields Inference: The snake has No. Characters been previously recorded Mental Single Wider than longer from Man Khettra, Junagarh Internasals 1 Pair Square and large District; Sasan-Gir and Prefrontals 1 Pair Narrow and extend up to loreals. Surat in Gujarat followed Frontal Single Large, bell shaped by Amravati and Wardha Parietals 1 Pair Largest of all head shields and Liver shaped districts in Maharashtra. This Anterior temporals 2 Pair Long and slender current record thus fills in the Posterior temporals 2 Pairs gap in the distribution from Nasal / Supranasal- 1 Pair Nasal pit in the center, with post nasal concave the south-western borders postnasal Trapezoidal, touches eye, 2nd, 3rd Supralabial, of Gujarat to north-eastern Loreals 1 Pair nasal, prefrontal and ocular borders of Maharashtra Preocular 1 Pair Above loreal and small comprised of Saurashtra 1st touches supra-ocular, parietal and temporal; Postocular 2 Pair region, around Vadodara 2nd touches temporal, 4.5 Supralabial District in East Gujarat, South Supraocular 1 Pair Narrow, C shaped Gujarat and entire stretch of Supralabials 7 pairs Largest is 7th, Smallest is 1. 3,4 touch eye Vidharbha Region. This land is Infralabials 6 Pairs 3,4,5,6 paired and large

continues to join the central Image 3. Full body view of vertebral yellow band. Elachistodon westermanni showing Measurements: Length: the prominent vertebral stripe. Also, the ‘S’ shaped posture can be seen. Snout-vent: 620mm; Tail: 98mm; Total: 718mm; Scalation pattern: (Table 2).

Behavior observations (in controlled environment) The snake was rescued at night, when it was lying on wet mud motionless outside in the garden of a house. It acted aggressively when the rescuers approached it. It was able to move on the ground slowly with a serpentine (S-Shaped) movement (Image 3). For an aggressive display it has the ability to flatten

Image 4. Aggressive threat display by Elachistodon westermanni

a semi-arid zone and similar Gans, C. & E.E. Williams Taylor and Francis, London, to the locality descriptions (1954). Present knowledge xii+583pp+1 map. for the holotypes. With wide of the snake Elachistodon Traffic India (2010). The westermanni Reinhardt 1863. Indian Wildlife (protection) distribution pattern and Brevoria 36: 1–17. Act, 1972 (As Amended habitat variability, this snake Khaire, N. (2010). Snakes. upto 2006). Diglot Edition, is important to be studied for Jyotsna Prakashan, Pune, Natraj publishers, Dehradun, adaptation capabilities and 63pp. 289pp. evolutionary changes and Murthy, T.S.N., D.P Sanyal Vyas, R. (2010). Distribution microhabitat preference. & B. Duttagupta (1993). of Elachistodon westermanni Rare snakes of India. The in Gujarat. Reptile Rap, Snake 25: 135–140. Newsletter of South Asian References Nande, R. & S. Deshmukh Reptile Network 10(June): (2007). Snakes of Amravati 7–8. Boulenger G.A. (1890). District including Melghat, Wall F. (1913). A rare snake The Fauna Of British India Maharashtra with important Elachistodon westermanni including Ceylon and Burma. records of the Indian Egg- from the Jalpaiguri District. Reptilia and Batrachia. Taylor Eater, Montane Trinket Snake Journal of the Bombay Natural and Francis, London. and Indian Smooth Snake. History Society 22(2): 400– Captain, A., F. Tillack, A. Zoos’ Print Journal 22(12): 401. Gumprecht & P. Dandge 2920–2924. (2005). First record of Rosenberg, H.I. & C. Gans Acknowledgement Elachistodon westermanni (1976). Lateral jaw muscles Heartiest gratitude to Reinhardt, 1863 (Serpentes, of Elachistodon westermanni Gerry Martin and Varad Giri Colubridae, Colubrinae) Reinhardt (Reptilia: for the constant support and from Maharashtra State, Serpentes), Canadian Journal encouragement. Thanks to India. Russian Journal of of Zoology 54(4): 510–521. Ashok Captain for timely help Herpetology 12(2): 121– Smith, M.A. (1943). The and suggestions on the record. 123. Fauna of British India, Ceylon Karan Thakur and Deepak Dandge, P. (2007). Food and and Burma including the Sharma from Snake Rescue feeding habits of Elachistodon whole of the Indo-Chinese Volunteers, Shegaon for giving westermanni Reinhardt, Sub-Region. Reptilia and a once in a lifetime opportunity 1863. Hamadryad 32: 1. Amphibia. Vol. III, Serpentes. to see and record this enigmatic snake.

12 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 An observation on death of Python molurus morning of 02 July 2011 we feeding on a male Spotted Deer Axis axis were on our way to check the results of a camera trap Mohnish Kapoor device that we had placed in the Gara-Amgadi region University School of Environment Management (USEM), G.G.S.I.P University, New Delhi 110075, India of the park for monitoring Email: [email protected] leopards and tigers. There was some strange stench

Ecological studies on python have showed that they feed on a variety of animals including frogs, rodents, wild cats, peafowl and ungulates like Barking Deer, Chinkara and Spotted Deer (Daniel 1983) There have been several cases where python death occurred due to movement of the prey in the gut region due to suffocation or the body is pierced by horns and antlers (Sharma 2004) We observed one such Image 1. Python death due to male chital (The body decay is clearly visible) incidence in the Chilla range of Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand in July the mentioned study area in the area and following 2011. I was working on a under the supervision of the source of the smell, we summer training project on Dr. Bivash Pandav (Wildife observed a pair of antlers monitoring of mammals in Institute of India). On the in the nearby bushes. On moving closer to the site we Image 2. The image shows the antler and the jaw of the deer seen saw a dead python, with an peeking out of the decaying carcass of the python approximate length of 3.5– 4 m and a dead adult male Spotted Deer (Image 1). The male Spotted Deer had been killed by the python, but was swallowed partially till the neck region (Images 2–3). The antler and the jaw bones of the Spotted Deer could be seen as they had pierced the body (posterior oral region) of the python. We suspect that the python must have tried to swallow its prey, but maybe as a result of

REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 a sudden sideways movement to facilitate swallowing or a sudden injury by the rock present beside the body of the python, the antlers and the jaws must have pierced through the body (Image 4). The oral cavity of the python was left wide open as the head region of the deer was found entangled in the oral region of the python (Image 5). The incident must be a day or two old as beetles and flies had already started scavenging Image 3. Lateral view of the incident and decay of several body parts was prominent.

References

Daniel, J.C. (1983). The Book of Indian Reptiles. Oxford University Press, 141pp. Sharma, S. (2004). An observation on suspected death of Indian Rock Python (Python molurus molurus) because of Jungle Cat. Reptile Rap Newsletter 6(September): 1.

Acknowledgements I thank my field assistant Imam, who was also present at Image 4. The length of the dead python indicating that it is a large full grown adult the site of the incidence. I convey my sincere regards to the forest department of Uttarakhand, Dr. Bivash Pandav and Abishek Harihar for their kind support.

Image 5. Close up view of the python’s head, the jaws are spread apart as it has tried to swallow the prey and the rock present adjacent to the head of the python.

REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 Herpetofauna of the Vidyanagari campus of outskirts of the campus where the University of Mumbai, Maharashtra there is vast, unused land with thick vegetation. Record of Madhav V. Upadhye 1, Vinayak V. Puranik 2, Prasad specimens killed under vehicles Dabholkar 2 & Ujwala Jadhav 3 and by humans was also made. The status of each species was 1,3 Department of Life Sciences, University of Mumbai, Santacruz (E), Mumbai, Maharashtra 400098, India observed in four categories 2 People for Animals (Mumbai), Parmar Guruji Marg, Parel, Mumbai, on the basis of total number Maharashtra 400012, India Email: [email protected] (corresponding author) of each species encountered or sighted during the entire survey. The category values Mumbai (formerly known as herpetofauna, the present were: rare (1–4), uncommon Bombay), considered to be the study was undertaken. (5–14), common (15–29) and economical capital of India, is a abundant (greater than 29). unique city where two kinds of Methods jungles – a concrete jungle and The study was carried Results a real forest co-exist with each out for a total duration of Amphibians: Six species of other. Despite the increasing 24 months from May 2008 amphibians were recorded at habitat destruction resulting to April 2010. Amphibians the campus during the study from mounting population in and reptiles encountered period. Only three specimens the city of Mumbai, it still has during extensive field trips of Narrow-mouthed Frog were rich biodiversity. Mumbai’s were captured, photographed spotted during the study while biodiversity is a product of (whenever possible) and the Common Indian Toad confluence of Arabian Sea carefully identified with the Duttaphrynus melanostictus to the west and the Western help of field guides (Daniel, and Skittering Frog Euphlyctis Ghats to the east. 1983; Das 2002; Whitaker & cyanophlyctis were abundantly Vidyanagari campus Captain 2004) before release. seen and remaining three of University of Mumbai Snakes were identified using species of amphibians (one (19004’18.5”N & 72051’21.5”E) scale count as described by species of toad and two of is situated at Kalina, Santacruz Smith (1943) and Daniel frogs) were common (Table which is a central suburb of (1983). Nomenclature 1). The Common Indian Mumbai City having an area adopted here is as given by Toads were frequently found of 230 acres. In spite of the Das (1994) and Dutta (1997) hiding under the platforms in number of development and for reptiles and amphibians, classrooms. construction activities going on respectively. Venomous snakes Reptiles: The status of in the University campus, it still were released away from the the 21 species of reptiles possesses a good vegetation human settlements at the belonging to 17 genera and cover providing habitat for a variety of fauna. Although a few attempts have been made Table 1. Systematic List of amphibians of the Mumbai University by Jadhav et al. (2007) and campus Upadhye et al. (2008) to study Family Common Name Scientific name Status floral and avifaunal diversity Common Indian Toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus Abundant Bufonidae of the campus, respectively, Marbled Toad Duttaphrynus stomaticus Common there is absolutely no scientific Microhylidae Narrow-mouthed Frog Microhyla ornata Rare report focusing exclusively Indian Cricket Frog Fejervarva limnocharis Common on herpetofaunal diversity Dicroglossidae Skittering Frog Euphlyctis cyclophlyctis Abundant of the campus. Considering the ecological importance of Indian Bull Frog Hoplobatrachus tigerinus Common

15 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 eight families recorded from campus while the Bark Gecko specimens of Indian Flapshell Mumbai University campus is Hemidactylus leschenaulti Turtle Lissemys punctata provided in Table 2. was rarely spotted. Common were rescued from the road Five species of the family skinks or Keeled Grass bordering the vast marshy Gekkonidae, two species Skinks Eutropis carinata were wetlands in the monsoon, of Agamidae and a species observed in great numbers which may have come of Scincidae lizards were especially in early mornings accidentally onto the road (on observed at the campus. under the rocks and leaf litter. land) for laying eggs. They Northern House, Northern A specimen was rescued from were released safely back into Spotted Geckos and Southern a classroom located on the the adjacent riverine habitat. House Geckos along with third floor of the Department Among the 12 species Indian Garden Lizard were of Life Sciences. of snakes recorded on the observed in abundance at the Two gravid female campus, nine were found to belong to the family Colubridae, out of which only one was semi-venomous and the rest Table 2. Systematic List of reptiles of the Mumbai University campus were non-venomous. Rat Family Common name Scientific name Status Snake, Checkered Keelback Indian Flapshell Turtle Trionychidae Lissemys punctata Rare and Buff-striped Keelback (Image 1) were seen abundantly on Northern House Gecko (Yellow-green House Hemidactylus flaviviridis Abundant the campus. Buff-striped Gecko) Keelbacks were seen in great Southern House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus Abundant numbers in monsoon season Gekkonidae Brook’s House Gecko Hemidactylus brookii Common as they gathered for mating. Rock or Northern Checkered Keelbacks were Hemidactylus maculates Abundant Spotted Gecko sighted near the pond and Bark Gecko Hemidactylus leschenaulti Rare in the canals of the campus, Indian Garden Lizard Calotes versicolor Abundant mainly near water resources. Agamidae (Image 2) Fan-throated Lizard Sitana ponticeriana Common Couple of road-killed specimens Common Skink (Image of Checkered Keelbacks were Scincidae Eutropis carinata Abundant 3) seen. A number of non- Common Sand Boa Boidae Gongylophis conicus* Common (Image 4) venomous Rat Snakes were Common Vine Snake rescued from the academic Ahaetulla nasutus* Rare (Image 5) buildings during the study Buff-striped Keelback Amphiesma stolata* Abundant and released. The longest Checkered Keelback Xenochropis piscator* Abundant (Image 6) specimen measured just over Rat Snake (Image 7) Ptyas mucosus* Abundant 2.4m. Rat Snakes were also Green Keelback (Image found to be killed by grass Macropisthodon plumbicolor* Uncommon Colubridae 8) cutters in the campus as these Common Wolf Snake Lycodon aulicus* Common are commonly mistaken for the (Image 9) Banded Racer (Image venomous Spectacled Cobra. Argyrogena fasciolatus* Uncommon 10) Even though, two of the big Common Bronze-back Dendrelaphis tristis* Rare Tree Snake (Image 11) fours in India—Russell’s’ Viper Banded Kukri Snake and Spectacled Cobra—were Oligodon arnensis* Common (Image 12) found to be quite common at Spectacled Cobra Elapidae Naja naja** Common (Image 13) the campus, fortunately no Indian Russell’s Viper human bite cases have been Viperidae Daboia russelii ** Common (Image 14) recorded. * - Non-venomous; ** - Venomous

16 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012

Image 3. Common Skink

Image 2. Indian Garden Lizard

Discussion The present results indicate that Vidyanagari campus of Mumbai University is considerably richer in terms of its herpetofaunal diversity © Atmaj Rane when compared to obser- vationsmade by Wadatkar Image 4. Common Sand Boa (2004) in the campus of University of Amravati. The investigator reported 12 species of snakes, two species of geckos, three species of skinks and one species of Calotes in his study. These observations are significantly important when considering the fact that unlike that of Vidyanagari campus of Mumbai University the Amravati University campus is covered by hilly forested area and © Vinayak Puranik

17 © Vinayak Puranik Image 5. Common Vine Snake

therefore, ideally expected to be richer in herpetofauna. However, Bengal Monitor Varanus bengalensis which was reported to be common at Amravati campus was found to be totally absent at Mumbai University campus. The significance of herpetofauna in ecology needs Image 6. Checkered Keelback no emphasis. The insect populations are regulated by amphibians such as toads and frogs along with reptiles like lizards and skinks. Snakes are of tremendous importance in the food chain as they keep the population of rats and mice under check. Nowadays, biodiversity in urban areas is threatened by urbanization, pollution, habitat destruction, climate change, introduction of alien species and extinction cascade where extinction of one species causes extinction of other (Jadhav et al. 2007). The rich herpetofaunal diversity observed in the present survey could be attributed to the suitable habitats such as © Vinayak Puranik gardens, marshy wetlands, grasslands, ponds, canals and to the presence of variety of plant types like herbs, shrubs, trees, bamboos etc. (over 292 plant species: Jadhav et al. 2007) in the University campus providing shelter Image 7. Rat Snake and food for a vast array of species. The need for green spaces like Vidyanagari campus which provides a safe haven for various species cannot be overemphasized. The present study which is the first ever study of herpetofauna of the campus,

REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012

Image 9. Common Wolf Snake © Vinayak Puranik

Image 10. Banded Racer is hoped to be useful for the scientific community, students and to the teaching and non- teaching staff of the campus to add to the present knowledge. Awareness lectures are being arranged at the campus for a better consciousness about herpetofauna and for requesting people not to kill herpetofauna, especially snakes.

References

Daniel, J.C. (1983). The Book of Indian Reptiles. Bombay Natural History Society,

Image 11. Common Bronze-back Tree Snake Image 12. Banded Kukri Snake

Image 13. Specktacled Cobra Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of India. New Holland Publishers, UK, 144pp. Dutta, S.K. (1997). Amphibians of India and Sri Lanka (Checklist and Bibliography). Odyssey Publication House, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India, 342pp. Jadhav, U., M.V. Upadhye, A.Y. Utekar, A. Deshmane, C.A. Thomas & R.C. Patil (2007). Biodiversity studies of Vidyanagari Campus of Mumbai University, pp. 19–24. In: Vishwakarma, K.S. (ed.). Environmental Degradation and Management - Vol. III. Society for Science and Environment, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India. Smith, M.A. (1943). Fauna

© Vinayak Puranik of British India, Ceylon and Burma - Reptiles and Amphibia, Vol. III Serpentes. Taylor and Francis, London, 583pp. Image 14. Russell’s Viper Upadhye, M.V., U. Jadhav, A.Y. Utekar & R.C. Patil (2008). Avifauna of Mumbai University Campus. Ecology, Environment and Conservation 14(2&3): 461–464. Wadatkar, J.S. (2004). Herpetofauna of the Amravati University Campus, Maharashtra. Zoos’ Print Journal 19(2): 1381–1382. Whitaker, R. & A. Captain (2004). Snakes of India: The Field Guide. Draco Books, Chennai, India, 481pp.

Acknowledgment Authors would like to express their sincere thanks to Prof. S. V. Deshmukh, former Head, © Vinayak Puranik University Department of Life Sciences for his cooperation Mumbai, India, 238pp. distribution and summary. and encouragement. Thanks Das, I. (1994). The reptiles Hamadryad 19: 15–40. are also due to Varun Torsekar, of South Asia: checklist, Das, I. (2002). A Photographic Research Scholar, Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore for his support.

20 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 Herpetofaunal diversity in and around the view to prepare an inventory selected man-made wetlands of central and of biodiversity, especially northern Gujarat, India herpetofauna found in and around the man-made water Raju Vyas 1, B.M. Parasharya 2 & J.J. Jani 3 bodies. We have also tried to assess the true significance of 1 505, Krishnadeep Tower, Mission Road, Fatehgunj, Vadodara, Gujarat 390002, India the water bodies other than 2 AINP on Agricultural Ornithology, 3 AICRP on Biological Control of Crop the agricultural importance. Pests and Weeds, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat 388110, India Email: 1 [email protected] (corresponding author), Objectives 2 [email protected], 3 [email protected] The study was carried out with the following objectives, Water is the fundamental the aquatic environment (i) To collect the base line need of all living organisms. and developmental needs information of reptiles and Without water, life is is becoming critical in many amphibians in and around impossible. Depending on of the world’s river basins, the water bodies, (ii) To study the type of wetland, many India being no exception the status of herpetofauna species of life forms i.e. high (WII 2010). from these areas, (iii) To biological diversity is found in To fulfill our basic needs know the importance of such and around them. Wetlands and requirements, we develop kind of water bodies from are classified on the basis or construct a new water the viewpoint of biodiversity of quality and quantity of body, either as a dam on conservation, (iv) To suggest the water. The lack of easy river systems, or as rainwater multipurpose management availability of this liquid gold collected in artificial earthen for versatile use without the i.e. water, either in terms depressions or by creating violation of original objectives of quality or the quantity or water reservoirs or by other and purpose of the water both parameters, has led us alternatives like the use of bodies. (human beings) to search ground water by constructing other alternatives to fulfill wells, hand pumps and other Study area our water requirements. such extraction mechanisms. There are various Presently, it has been noted Such kind of man-made sizes of man-made water that the species diversity of water bodies are the results bodies available in various inland water ecosystems is of alteration of a large area of biodiversity zones. most threatened and in many habitat; either the forestlands It is also found that they parts of the world, it is in or scrublands getting are either surrounded with continuous and accelerating submerged in water. These agricultural fields or share decline (MEA 2006). In India, kinds of water bodies support boundaries with protected as elsewhere in the world, many types of biodiversity. areas of the state. Therefore, freshwater and freshwater- We know the irrigation and the study was conducted in dependent ecosystems agricultural values, but are five man-made water bodies, provide a range of ecological still ignorant about the types namely: (i) Hathmati dam, services for humans like of biodiversity actually/ (ii) Dantiwada dam, (iii) Deo drinking water, fish, flood directly supported by such dam, (iv) Kanewal water tank protection and wildlife kind of man-made water and (v) Pariej water tank (Postel 1998; Revenga & bodies. (Fig. 1). Kura 2003). As population Therefore, we explored The first three water and associated water five representative man- bodies are “dam” type water demands increase, balancing made water bodies in central bodies and are built on river the requirement between and northern Gujarat, with a systems, namely Hathmati

21 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 body’. Each one of the identified water bodies was surveyed through a rapid survey and various potential areas were selected surrounding the water bodies for the aspect of availability of amphibians and reptilian species. These habitats were intensively explored (especially microhabitats) through repeated visits in various seasons. During the study, all the important species have been documented through the colored photographs and as and when close examination was required, the animals were caught with various known methods of catching amphibians and reptiles. All caught animals were released in the same habitat after recording the necessary data. All collected specimens Figure 1. The location site of five man-made water bodies in Gujarat State were examined and carefully identified by using the River, Banas River and Dev- relevant details of the water diagnostic keys, given by Dhadhar River, respectively bodies are mentioned in Smith (1935, 1943) and and the remaining two water Table 1. Daniel (1963a, 1963b and bodies; Kanewal and Pariej 1975) & Daniels (1997) and are “water tank” type water Methods nomenclatures adopted here bodies and are filled by the All these five water bodies are those of Das (1994 & waters of Mahi and Narmada were surveyed in various 2003), Dutta (1997) and Frost irrigation canals of Vanakbori seasons, during 2004 and et al. (2006) for reptiles and Dam and Sardar Sarovar 2005. A total of 30 field days amphibians, respectively. (Narmada Dam). First were spent for the study, Field surveys: (a) visual three water bodies are for to find out the estimate of encounter surveys, (b) irrigation purpose, whereas species of amphibian and watching aquatic reptilian the waters of Kanewal and reptiles surviving in and species through the field Pariej water tanks are utilized around these water bodies. binoculars (10x50), and for irrigational purpose This is considering the area (c) recording the species and as drinking water by around the water body through indirect evidences the surrounding towns and as ‘500m area from the like shell, molt/moult villages. The topographic, demarcation of high water and sound. In addition, salient features and other marks of the particular water secondary information was

22 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 Table 1. Salient features of the water bodies from study area at Gujarat State, India

Hathmati Dantiwada Deo Pariej Kanewal Location: nearer Fatepur Dantiwada, Kuberpura Tarapur, Tarapur, village & District Sabarkantha Banaskantha Panchmahal Anand Anand 23042’N & 24010’N & 22022’N & 22033’N & 22028’N & Latitude & Longitude 73013’E 72029’E 73033’E 72038’E 72032’E Present Purpose Irrigation & Flood Irrigation & Irrigation & Irrigation & Irrigation of water body control Flood control Drinking Drinking Water body located on Mahi Right Bank Mahi Right Bank Hathmati Banas Deo River Canal Canal Area of catchment 595km2 2862km2 259km2 -- -- Area at full reservoir 32.36km2 40.47km2 16.68km2 --- -- level Area under 3750ha 4050ha 1868ha 445ha 625ha submergence No. of villages under 14 partial & 6 full 12 partial 11 partial & 9 full ---- 6 submergence gathered from local people Deo dam and the lowest amphibians (one species of surrounding villages, number was recorded from of toad and three species staff of forest department Pariej water tank (Fig. 2). of frogs) and 13 species of and irrigation department. Out of the total 34 species reptiles (one species of turtle, Other wildlife enthusiasts of amphibians and reptiles, 17 seven species of lizards and were also inquired about the species were recorded from five species of snakes). presence of different species all five wetlands, including The Common Indian Tree of amphibians and reptiles by four species of anuran- Frog Polypedates maculatus showing the colour pictures of the species. Table 2. Systematic list of amphibians species recorded in and around Hathmati dam, Dantiwad dam, Deo dam, Pariej water tank and Kanewal Results and Discussion water tank, Gujarat State, India During the study period, we were able to collect information about the Common name (Scientific name) availability of nine species

of amphibians belonging to Hathmati Dantiwada Deo Pariej Kanewal four families (Table 2) and 25 Bufonidae species of reptiles belonging Common Asian Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) P P P P P to 14 families (Table 3) from Marbled Toad (Duttaphrynus stomaticus) P P - - - in and around the earlier Microhylidae mentioned five water bodies Ornate Narrow-mouthed Frog (Microhyla ornata) P P P P of Gujarat State. Of which, Marbled Balloon Frog (Uperodon systoma) - P P - - nine species are toads and frogs, one species of crocodile, Dicroglossidae two species of turtles, twelve Indian Skipping Frog (Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis) P P P P P species of lizards and ten Indian Bull Frog (Hoplobatrachus tigerinus) P P P P P species of snakes. The record Cricket Frog (Fejervarya limnocheris) P P P P P of availability of herpetofauna Short-headed Burrowing Frog (Sphaerotheca breviceps) P P P - P at each water body shows Rhacophoridae that the highest number of Indian Tree Frog (Polypedates maculatus) - - P - - amphibians and reptilian Total Species 7 8 8 4 6 species were recorded from P - presence of species

23 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 35 on their periphery and are Family Genus Species surrounded by agricultural 30 fields. These two wetlands are far away from the forests 25 and protected areas. Here, we come across a 20 valuable suggestion after the present study that Gujarat 15 State has over 300 man- made water bodies ranging 10 from small to large sizes. The concerned criteria for further 5 actions should not only be the utility of the water and the 0 Hathmati Dantiwada Pariej Water Kanewal Water size of these reservoirs but Dam Dam Deo Dam Tank Tank also the overall biodiversity Figure 2. The pictograph of herpetofanal diversity at five man-made water existent in and around the bodies of Gujarat State, India water body. Our experience with the department of and Crocodile Mugger tanks because both the irrigation suggests that they Crocodylus palustris were wetlands are situated on the consider a solitary point of recorded only at Deo dam, plains with earthen bunds view and that point is the while Lacertidae lizards Snake-eyed Lacerta Ophisops jerdonii and Indian Fringe- toed Lizard Acanthodactylus cantoris were found only at Dantiwada dam. The Common Indian Wolf Snake Lycodon aulicus was recorded at Kanewal water tank only. Present study indicates a good amphibian and reptilian diversity supported by man- made water bodies. The amphibian and reptilian diversity is dependant on the surrounding habitat of these water bodies. The highest diversity was recorded at Deo and Dantiwada dams because both the water bodies are situated very close to the protected areas and in river basin areas which included agricultural fields also. Whereas, lower diversity was recorded at Image 1. One of the commonly sighted skink in the study area; Common Keeled Kanewal and Pariej water Grass Skink Eutrophis carinata

24 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 Table 3. Systematic list of reptilian species recorded in and around five man-made water bodies of Gujarat State, India

Common name (Scientific name) Hathmati Dantiwada Deo Pariej Kanewal Crocodildae 1 Mugger (Crocodylus palustris) -* - P - - Trinychidae 2 Indian Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia gangeticus) - P P - - 3 Indian Flapshell Turtle (Lissemys punctata) P P P P P Gekkonidae 4 Brook’s House Gecko (Hemidactylus brookii) P P P P P 5 Yellow-green House Gecko (Hemidactylus flaviviridis) P P P P P 6 Bark Gecko (Hemidactylus leschenultii) - P P - - Agamidae 7 Garden Lizard (Calotes versicolor) P P P P P 8 Fan-throated Lizard (Sitana ponticeriana) P P P P P Chamaeleonidae 9 Indian Chamaeleon (Chamaeleo zeylanicus) - P P - - Scincidae 10 Spotted Supple Skink (Lygosoma puncatus) P P P - - 11 Common Keeled Grass Skink (Eutrophis carinata) (Image 1) P P P P P 12 Striped Grass Skink (Eutrophis macularius) P P P P P Lacertidae 13 Snake-eyed Lacerta (Ophisops jerdonii) - P - - - 14 Indian Fringe-toed Lizard (Acanthodactylus cantoris) - P - - - Varanidae 15 Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis) P P P P P Typhlopidae 16 Brahminy Worm Snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus) P P P P P Boidae 17 Common Sand Boa (Gangylophis conica) P P P 18 Common Red Sand Boa (Eryx johnii) P P P P Pythonidae 19 Indian Rock Python (Python molurus) Report P P Colubridae 20 Common Wolf Snake (Lycodon aulicus) P 21 Indian Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosus) P P P P P 22 Checkered keel-back Water Snake (Xenochrophis piscator) P P P P P Elapidae 23 Spectacled Cobra (Naja naja) P P P P Viperidae 24 Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus) P P P P P 25 Russell’s Viper (Daboia russelii) P Total 15 22 22 14 15

P - presence; * - past record

25 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 agricultural requirement for systematic, taxonomy and Revenga, C. & Y. Kura the management of man- nomenclature. Journal of (2003). Status and trends made water bodies. the Bombay Natural History of biodiversity of inland water Society 100 (2&3): 446– ecosystems. Secretariat of

501. the Convention on Biological References Dutta, S.K. (1997). Amphibians Diversity, Montreal, Technical of India and Sri Lanka Series No. 11. Daniel, J.C. (1963a). Field (checklist and bibliography). Smith, M.A. (1935). Fauna guide to amphibian of western Odyssey Publication House, of British India, Reptile & India. Part-I. Journal of the Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India. Amphibian Vol. II. Taylor and Bombay Natural History 342pp. Francis, London, 185pp. Society 60: 415–438. Frost, D.R., T. Grant, J. Smith, M.A. (1943). Fauna Daniel, J.C. (1963b). Field Faivovich, R.H. Bain, A. of British India, Reptile & guide to amphibian of western Haas, C.F.B. Haddad, Amphibian Vol. III., Taylor India. Part-II. Journal of R.O. Desa, Channing, M. and Francis, London, 583pp. the Bombay Natural History Wilkinson, S.C. Donnellan, WII (2010). Assessment Society 60: 690–702. C.J. Raxworthy, J.A. of ecological impacts of Daniel, J.C. (1975). Field guide Campbell, B.L. Blotto, P. the proposed lift irrigation to amphibian of western Moler, R.C. Drewes, R.A. scheme on Chambal River India. Part-III. Journal of Nussbaum, J.D. Lynch, at Kanera, District Bhind, the Bombay Natural History D.M. Green & W.C. Wheeler Madhya Pradesh. Study Society 72: 506–522. (2006). The amphibian report. Wildlife Institute of Daniels, R.J.R. (1997). A field tree of life. Bulletin of the India. Dehradun, 56pp. guide to the frog and toads American Museum of Natural of the Western Ghats, India. History (297): 1–370. Acknowledgements Part I, II and III. Cobra (27 to MEA (2006). Inland water We are thankful to the Gujarat 29): 1–25, 1–24 and 1–13. systems. Millennium State Forest Department for Das, I. (1994). The reptiles Ecosystem Assessment financial support through an ad of South Asia: checklist Synthesis Reports. hoc project on the wetlands. We and distribution summery. Washington, D.C. (BMP and JJJ) are also thankful Hamadryad 19:15–40. Postel, S.L. (1998). Water for to Officer-in-Charge, Biological Das, I. (2003). Growth of food production: will there be Control Research Laboratory, knowledge on the Reptiles of enough in 2015? Bioscience Anand Agricultural University for India, with an introduction to 48: 629-637. encouragement.

26 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 A Malabar Pit Viper, Trimeresurus a morph of T. malabaricus malabaricus (Jerdon, 1854) morph from the from the semi-evergreen southern Western Ghats forests of the Vazhachal Forest Division (10019’48.5”N Arun Kanagavel 1, Rajkumar Sekar 2, Nikhil Whitaker 3 & 76040’8.4”E) in the Kerala 4 & Rajeev Raghavan region of Western Ghats.

1,2,4 Conservation Research Group (CRG), St. Albert’s College, Cochin, Kerala Our sighting was made at 682018, India an elevation of 694m, and 3 Centre for Herpetology/Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Mamallapuram, the viper was found resting Chennai, Tamil Nadu 603104, India 4 Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), University of Kent, on a dry twig, 9cm from the Canterbury, CT2 7NR, United Kingdom. forest floor, with relatively Email: 1 [email protected] (corresponding author), 2 raajkumar_ [email protected], 3 [email protected], 4 [email protected] little undergrowth, beside a forest path at 1650hr on 15th January 2011. The The Malabar Pit Viper, 2008; Sawant et al. 2010). specimen was orange yellow Trimeresurus malabaricus Being polymorphic, the basic in color and was without the (Jerdon, 1854) is a medium- colour profile of a Malabar Pit typical brown or black spots sized snake, endemic to the Viper varies between green, on the body, characteristic of tropical rainforests of the olive, brown, yellow, blue, the other morphs (Whitaker Western Ghats occurring reddish-brown and maroon, & Captain 2008). In this between 123m and 2134m speckled with black and specimen, the prominent above sea level on bushes, brown spots which may form spots were replaced by a trees and rocks, often in a zigzag pattern (Whitaker & darker orange tone forming close proximity to forest Captain 2008). In this note a zigzag pattern identical to streams (Whitaker & Captain we describe the sighting of the other variations. The

Image 1. The Malabar Pit Viper morph from Vazhachal Forest Division reported here

REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012

coloration on the head was been suggested to be habitat in Israel and Sinai. Journal of uniform and without the specific, their distribution Arid Environments 37: 513– usual speckled appearance being affected by seasonal 527. Sawant, N.S., T.D. Jadhav (Images 1 & 2). The changes in temperature & S.K. Shyama (2010). individual was identified as and humidity (Sawant et al. Distribution and abundance T. malabaricus by its large 2010). If this distribution is of pit vipers (Reptilia: and distinct triangular head, unaffected by detectability of Viperidae) along the Western weak keels on dorsal scales, the species due to seasonal Ghats of Goa, India. Journal 19 dorsal scales at mid- difference, polymorphism of Threatened Taxa 2(10): 1199–1204. body, nine supralabials and exhibited by the Malabar Whitaker, R. & A. Captain 11 infralabials. Pit Viper may not be due to (2008). Snakes of India - Many vipers in India thermoregulation but rather The Field Guide. Draco Books, like the Saw-scaled Viper for camouflage. Additional Chennai, 385pp. Echis carinatus, Hump- factors such as locality (see nosed Pit Viper Hypnale Kark et al. 1997) and wider Acknowledgements The first author would like hypnale, Cantor’s Pit Viper habitat use (Sawant et al. to thank Romulus Whitaker Trimeresurus cantor, and 2010) may also influence for confirming the identity of Malabar Pit Viper exhibit polymorphism. the specimen, the Zoological polymorphism (Whitaker & Society of London for financial Captain 2008). The reason References support under the Erasmus for polymorphism, however, Barlow Expedition Grant and the Department of Forest and has not been investigated Kark, S., I. Warburg & Y.L. Werner (1997). Wildlife, Government of Kerala in any of these species. Pit Polymorphism in the snake for the research permits (WL12- vipers from the Goa region Psammophis schokari on 7326/2010). of the Western Ghats have both sides of the desert edge

28 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 Sightings of King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah in the northern coastal in northern coastal Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh region (18 012’10.83” & 83004’30.95” K.L.N. Murthy 1 & K.V. Ramana Murthy 2 to 18048’38.31”N & 83048’52.44”N approxima- 1 Biologist, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530040, India tely) over the last few years 2 Executive Director, Green Mercy, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India (Image 1). Two large male Email: 1 [email protected], 2 [email protected] King Cobras were even killed by locals on two separate The King Cobra 2002; Leviton et al. 2003). occasions in this region which Ophiophagus hannah Cantor, The King Cobra is listed encompasses three districts 1836, is the largest venomous under Schedule II of the of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram snake in the world, reaching Indian Wildlife (Protection) and Visakhapatnam to a length of up to 5.85m Act, 1972; Appendix II of respectively. A 4.26m long (Aagaard 1924). Although CITES; and in the Vulnerable male King Cobra (Images not a common snake, the category by IUCN (2010) 2 & 3) was spotted dead species has a wide distribution which also recommends by volunteers of Green (David & Vogel 1996). This research into, and monitoring Mercy (an NGO working monotypic genus of the of the population status of for wildlife conservation in family Elapidae is considered this species to gain a better the three districts) on 28th as a species complex by Das understanding of how the July 2009, at Sitampeta (2002), as the species varies population responds to forest area 18040’33.96”N & in coloration, scalation and threats and conservation. 83048’27.11”E in Srikakulam body proportion throughout In the present paper, (Murthy & Murthy 2010). its range. we report the sightings The dead King Cobra weighed In India, the distribution of Ophiophagus hannah about 6.5kg and as the range of the species is from different locations specimen was decomposing recorded as Western Ghats, Uttar Pradesh (Terai), Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, northeastern India and also the Andaman Islands (Whitaker & Captain 2004). In its distributional range, the species is recorded from various habitat types such as lowland, wet tropical forest, coastal rainforest, tropical and subtropical wet montane forest, dry forest, swamps and marshes, open scrubland, plantation and cultivated areas, alluvial and terai grassland, mangrove swamps, open country and disturbed areas, and near human habitations (Narayan

& Rosalind 1989; David & Image 1. Different locations where sightings of Ophiophagus hannah were Vogel 1996; Selich & Këstle reported between 2006–2010 (Map Source: Google Earth 2011)

29 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 north Coastal Andhra has varied habitats ranging from coasts to dry, thorny, scrub to dry, deciduous forests and sal forests. Small pockets of semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests do exist in Makkuva, Duggeru and Salur forest blocks of Vizianagaram Division. This division occupies a very strategic position owing to the fact that many wild animals including elephants wander into this district from the adjacent Image 2. Dead Ophiophagus hannah specimen state of Orissa on a regular basis. There are unconfirmed occasional sightings of King Cobras by locals from this region and also few other locations in Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam divisions as well. Direct evidence like actual sightings, killings by humans as well as indirect evidence in the form of shed skins, skeletal remains, tracks, and deserted leaf nests clearly suggests the occurrence of the species in this region. Furthermore, there have been reports in the local electronic and print media about sightings and killings of King Cobras with

Image3. Dorsal View of the head preserved at Science college in Srikakulam. visuals. The species was also sighted by locals near Sunnapu Gedda Waterfalls fast, it was carried to a nearby a small village near S. Kota in the adjoining Sitampet science college and preserved Town 18006’57.67”N & mandal of Srikakulam District in 10% formalin solution. 83004’35.23”E. This incident which lies at Andhra-Orissa On enquiring, it was learnt took place on 30 October border (K.V. Ramana Murthy, that the snake was killed 2010. King Cobras have Green Mercy, 25-08-2010 by people from surrounding been sighted here by locals, pers. comm. ). villages. In another incident, forest department personnel There is an apparent dearth a 3.84m long male King Cobra and members of Green Mercy of information regarding the weighing 5.7kg was stoned Organization in the recent exact distributional status to death by locals (Images past. of the species in northern 4 & 5) at Kapusompuram, The geographic region of coastal Andhra Pradesh due

30 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012

Image 4. Ophiophagus hannah killed by villagers near S.Kota Town.

Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Awareness programmes for local communities should be carried out to educate them about the ecological significance of the species and their conservation importance.

References

Aagaard, C.J. (1924). Cobras and King Cobras. Natural History Bulletin Siam Society 6: 315-316. David, P. & G. Vogel (1996). The Snakes of Sumatra: An Annotated Checklist and Key Image 5. Flattened head of Ophiophagus hannah with Natural History Notes. Edition Chimaira, Frankfurt- au-Main, Germany, 260pp. to paucity of herpetological population. Developing inter- Das, I. (2002). A Photographic surveys. Invariably, it is linking corridors between Guide to Snakes and Other a serious impediment for forest areas i.e., from S.Kota Reptiles of India. New Holland chalking out conservation – Araku-Salur – Duggeru– Publishers Ltd., London, UK, management strategies. Parvathipuram and Sitampeta 144pp. Lack of awareness and regions could be useful for IUCN (2010). Ophiophagus hannah. In: IUCN 2010. prevalent myths lead to the long-term survival of 2010 Red List of Threatened unnecessary killing of these King Cobra populations in Species. and redundant killings by immediate intensive surveys Downloaded on 27 March locals are taking a heavy toll be carried out in all the 2011. Leviton, A.E., G.O.U. Wogan, on the resident King Cobra three districts of northern M.S. Koo, G.R. Zug, R.S.

31 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 Lucas & J.V. Vindum grassland; an unusual habitat. Acknowledgements (2003). The dangerously Journal of the Bombay Natural This self-funded survey is venomous snakes of History Society 87(2): 309. an off-shoot of Green Mercy Myanmar. Illustrated checklist Selich, H. & W. Kästle (eds.) Organisation’s Conservation with keys. Proceedings. of (2002). Amphibians and Programme to save snake fauna the California Academy of Reptiles of Nepal. Gantner, in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram Sciences 54(2): 407–462. A.R.G. Verlag V.G.,& Ruggell districts. We are grateful to the Murthy K.L.N & K.V. Ramana (distributed by Koeltz, field staff of Forest Department Murthy (2010) Dead King Koenigstein, Germany), of all the three districts for their Cobra Ophiophagus hannah 1201pp+127pls (including vital inputs and members of found near Srikakulam 374 col. figs). Green Mercy who have been very in North Coastal Andhra Whitaker, R. & A. Captain instrumental in data collection. Pradesh. Reptile Rap 6: 27- (2004). Snakes of India, The We would like to express our 28. Field Guide. Draco Books, heartfelt thanks to Mr. P. Gowri Narayan, G. & L. Rosalind Chennai, xiv+481pp. Shankar of Agumbe Rainforest (1989). King cobra in Research Station for his valuable inputs on the manuscript.

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32 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012 First record of Slender Coral Snake Calliophis and all the four species are melanurus (Shaw, 1802) south of the known from Kerala too. They Palghat Gap, Western Ghats are Calliophis beddomei, C. bibroni, C. nigrescens G. Shine 1 & P.O. Nameer 2 and C. melanurus (Palot & Radhakrishnan 2011). 1 College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, Kerala 680656 India 2 Department of Wildlife Sciences, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural Present observation University, Thrissur, Kerala 680656 India Email: 1 [email protected], 2 [email protected] During the course of the ongoing herpetological survey in the KAU campus we The Kerala Agricultural maximum of 31.80C. The discovered a Slender Coral University (KAU) main campus mean annual rainfall is Snake Calliophis melanurus is located at Vellanikkara, 2763mm. The mean number on 16 June 2011. The Thrissur District, Kerala of rainy days per year is 110 specimen has a total length (Fig. 1 & Image 1). The days (KAU weather station, of 155mm, including the campus has a total area of 2010). tail length of 15mm. This is 391.44ha having garden Out of the 275 species of much smaller than the total lands, botanical garden, snakes of India (Whitaker length measurements given plantations of Coconut Cocos & Captain 2004), Kerala in Smith (1943), indicating nucifera, Rubber Hevea has 102 species (Palot & that it was probably a braziliensis, Arecanut Areca Radhakrishnan 2011). Family juvenile individual. The catechu, Cocoa Theobroma Elapidae is represented by 17 morphometric details of the cacao, Plantain Musa species in six genera in India, snake including the scalation paradisiaca, and orchards of out of which seven species are given in Table 1. The Mango Mangifera indica, Jack in four genera are known scalation details of Slender Artocarpus heterophyllus, from Kerala. Among the five Coral Snake obtained from Sapota Manilkara achras and species of coral snakes known KAU campus were compared Guava Psidium guajava and to occur in India, four belong with the scalation details for Fodder Grasses Pennisetum to the genus Calliophis and all the Slender Coral Snake given pedicellatum. The KAU these are found in peninsular in Smith (1943) and Whitaker campus is very near to the India (Deepak et al. 2010) & Captain (2004). The KAU Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Ghats, the aerial distance of which is not more than 4–5 km. KAU campus is located south of the Palghat Gap. KAU campus enjoys a moderate climate. The main source of atmospheric precipitation is the south-west and north-east monsoons. The greater portion of the rain is from south-west monsoon between June and September. The 10-year mean minimum temperature is 23.30C and 10-year mean Figure 1. Location map of KAU campus, Vellanikkara, Thrissur

33 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012

Image 1. Google Map of KAU campus Vellanikkara specimen has 38 subcaudal Distribution Maharastra, Karnataka, scales and based on this it Smith (1943) gives the Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. can be concluded that it was distribution range of Slender Whitaker & Captain (2004) a male individual. The GPS Coral Snake from Bengal, give the Slender Coral Snakes readings of the location from Nagpur, Bombay, Dharwar, definite records from Gujarat, where the specimen was Malabar, Coimbatore, Maharashtra, Karnataka, obtained are 76016’45.4”E Anamalais and Sri Lanka. Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. and 10032’46.6”N, at an Molur & Walker (1998), There is a single record from altitude of 43m. give the distribution range Dhar, Madhya Pradesh (Vyas of Calliophis melanurus as & Vyas 1981) and Nallamala, Description Slender Coral Snake is an Table 1. A comparison on the scalation of Slender Coral Snake obtained from KAU extremely slender bodied, campus, compared with that of Whitaker & Captain (2004) mildly venomous snake with Smith, (1943); Whitaker & KAU specimen smooth scales (Images 2 & Captain (2004) 3). The head and neck black, total length 155mm 335mm back light brown, tail brown tail length 15mm 22mm with two black rings, one at body scale 13:13:13 13:13:13 the base and other near the ventrals 251 249-277 tip of the tail, under side subcaudal 38 33-37 (male); 24-27 (female) coral red. The snake when preocular touches nasal touches nasal disturbed raised and coiled postocular two two the tail. supra labials 6 (3rd and 4th touching eye) 6 (3rd and 4th touching eye) anal scale divided divided subcaudals paired paired

34 Breeding Specialist Group, India, Coimbatore, India. 175pp. Sanyal, D.P., B. Dattagupta & N.C. Gayen (1993). Reptilia, pp. 1–63. In: Ghosh, A.K. (ed.). Fauna of Andhra Pradesh—Part 1. (Reptilia, Amphibia, Fishes). Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta. Sharma, R.C. (1971). The reptile fauna of the Nagarjunasagar Dam area (Andhra Pradesh, India). Records of the Zoological Survey of India 63(1–4):77– 93. Smith, M.A. (1943). The fauna of British India, Ceylon and Image 1. Dorsal view of Slender Coral Snake from KAU campus, Vellanikkara, June 2011 Burma including the whole of the Indo-Chinese Subregion. Reptilia and Amphibia, Vol. Guptha, B.M. & M. Rajasekhar northern Andhra Pradesh III. Serpents. Taylor and (2011). Sighting of Slender (Sharma 1971; Sanyal et al. Francis, London. Coral Snake Calliophis 1993). Recently Guptha & Vyas, T.P. & M. Vyas (1981). melanurus in Seshachalam Rajasekhar (2011) reported A note on the Slender Coral Hills, Eastern Ghats, India: a Snake, Callophis melanurus. Calliophis melanurus from new record. Reptile Rap 12: Journal of the Bombay the Eastern Ghats. 5–6. Natural History Society 78: Palot, M.J. & C. Radhakrishnan Thus the present record 611–612. (2011). An updated checklist of the Calliophis melanurus Whitaker, R. & A. Captain of reptiles of Kerala. Malabar from the Kerala Agricultural (2004). Snakes of India-The Trogon 9: (1&2): 24–30. University campus, Vellani- Field Guide. Draco Books, Molur, S. & S. Walker (eds.) Chennai, xiv+481pp. kkara, Thrissur District, in (1998). Report of the Kerala is of interest. As this workshop “Conservation Acknowledgements Assessment and Management is the first record of this We thank the Associate Dean, Plan for Reptiles of India” species from south of the College of Forestry, KAU for (BCPP-Endangered Species Palghat Gap, Western Ghats. encouragement. We also thank Project), Zoo Outreach All other published records of Mr. Sreehari VS for helping in Organisation, Conservation this species were from north preparing the map. of Palghat Gap. Image 3. The coral-red coloration of the underside and bluish-grey color of the under tail of the References Slender Coral Snake from KAU campus, Vellanikkara, June 2011

Deepak, V., S. Harikrishnan, K. Vasudevan & N.E. Smith (2010). Redescription of Bibron’s Coral Snake, Calliophis bibroni, Jan, 1858 with notes and new records from south of the Palghat and Shencottah Gaps of the Western Ghats, India. Hamadryad 35(1): 1-10.

1 REPTILE RAP #14, June 2012

UGC Sponsored Major Research Project on Herpetofauna

Project Title: “Herpetofaunal Diversity of Sonitpur District, Assam and Adjacent Arunachal Pradesh India with Special Reference to Ecobiology and Breeding Behaviour of Certain Rare Species” i. Principal Investigator: Dr. Mohini Mohan Borah Ii. Designation: Assistant Professor in Zoology iii. Address: a. Office: Chaiduar College, Gohpur, Sonitpur, Assam 784168 b. Residence: Ward No.-6, Madhya Chatrang, P.O- Gohpur, Sonitpur, Assam 784168 iv. UGC Approve No. & Date: F.No.-39-619/2010(SR) Dt. 12th January 2011. v. Duration of Project: 3 Years w. e. f. 01-02-2011. vi. PI in brief: The proposer of the project did his PhD on the topic “A study on distribution of amphibian fauna of Arunachal Pradesh with special reference to habitat ecology of tadpoles”. He has published 48 papers in different journals and national and international seminars. He has completed a UGC sponsored MRP on the topic “Exploration of aquatic fauna of Sonitpur District, Assam with emphasis on conservation measures” the result of which would be additional value of the proposed project. He has constant touch with famous herpetologists of the country and abroad. As these, he achieved a significant milestone in organising a programme at his own college on 07 may 2008 on the occasion of International Year of Frog, 2008 by the gracious participation of Prof. Dr. Annemarie Ohler, Curator of reptiles and amphibians, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France and Dr. Stephans Grosjean, Assistant Professor of the same institute. The proposer is one of the contributor of the book “ Threatened Amphibians of the World ” published by, LYNX, Spain in 2008. vii. Executive summery of the ongoing Project: The northeastern region of India along with eastern Himalaya is recognized as one of the global bio-diversity hotspot region of the world. The eastern Himalayan region is unique in all aspects of bio-diversity, ecosystem, topography, climate and anthropological diversity. The region is a gateway to the Indian region for migration from Myanmar, China, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan etc. Major portion of the region is still largely inaccessible and less degraded ecologically than the main land of India, but is rather extremely fragile, vulnerable and falls under the highly seismic zone. The National Conservation Strategy, 1992, outlines the policy action required to give greater attention to biodiversity conservation. The present study area ,i.e , Sonitpur District of Assam occupies 5,324km2 bordered with state of Arunachal Pradesh in the north and river Brahmaputra in the south. Though the study area comprises a significant portion of eastern Himalayan hotspot of biodiversity, and yet it is one amongst the least known. Various wild life surveys in the last decade mention mainly on mammals and birds. The reptilian species diversity in the present study site is still not fully understood except very few sporadic survey reports. Many of the checklist of amphibian and reptilian species of northeastern India need further authentication and many new species of Indo-Chinese elements are likely to occur. The aim of this ongoing project is to make a detailed investigation on amphibian and reptilian habitat of Sonitpur District of Assam and adjacent Arunachal Pradesh. A few physico-chemical parameter will be analysed in the diversed habitats of amphibians and reptilians of study site. The inhabitants over the years acquired unique knowledge about the use of amphibian and reptilian species as food, medicine and ornaments. A detailed ethnomedicozoological study may highlight various applications of animal species and could provide a scope of knowledge for developing indigenous economy and environmental security. The year 2008 has been declared as International Year of Frog because of their key role in ecological communities. They are considered as important bioindicators of global climatic chang. Significant declines and apparent extinctions among numerous species were noted by researchers all over the world since 1980. The pressure on amphibian and reptilian habitat can be recorded only when detailed investigations on ecology, food habit , biology and taxonomic study is available. Study of distributional pattern or zoogeography of a species provides information on ranges of their natural distribution and boundaries that help to find out the endemic status of a species. The use of different species of frogs, lizards, tortoises, snake etc. by a indigenous people as food and medicine indicate its potential for economic and academic importance. viii. Significance of the study: Initially any research and developmental programme survey and demarcation are basic necessities to be carried out in the beginning. Scientific knowledge on biodiversity in general and herpeto fauna in particular of the Sonitpur District is surprisingly deficient. Most of the area in the district is unique ecologically and faunastically. Another important consideration is a great variation in relationship of people to biodiversity and ecosystem which are social, economic, cultural and scientific importance. This project will help in bringing out first hand information and resources data base on the various aspects of biological studies on the lesser known herpetofauna of Sonitpur district of Assam and adjacent Arunachal Pradesh. The results of the project may provide useful information to the researchers, various state government departments, NGO’s, Indian Council of Medical Research, IUCN, Species Survival Group (SSG), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Declining Amphibian Population Task Force (DAPTF), Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Zoo Outreach Organization (ZOO), Forest Research Institutes, Universities, Local entrepreneurs, etc.