Bamboo Pit Viper | Trimeresurus gramineus

Labels: Indian tree viper, Bamboo snake, Indian green tree viper, Green tree viper, bamboo viper

Binomial name: Trimeresurus gramineus
Common name: Bamboo Pit Viper

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Crotalinae
Genus:	Trimeresurus
Species:	T. gramineus

Type: VENOMOUS

Distinguishing Features: Small sized; slightly keeled scales; green above; wide, triangular head; thin neck.

Average Length: 40 cm; At Birth: 16 cm; Maximum: 80 cm.

Description: Bamboo Pit Vipers are pale green with a slight, uneven black pattern on the back. Their head is wide and triangular, placed on a slim delicate neck. The scales on the top of their head are tiny whereas the dorsal body scales are slightly keeled. These snakes are one of the most common of the Green Pit Vipers of India. The Green Pit Vipers are mainly arboreal, living in vines, bushes and bamboo; but the many-coloured ones like the Rock Pit Vipers are terrestrial, preferring rock cliffs, tree bases and stream edges. The diverse species tend to have temperature, elevation and humidity preferences.

Distribution: They are mainly found in the drier parts of the Western Ghats and parts of Eastern Ghats including Gingee in Eastern Tamil Nadu. The Himalayan Pit Viper sets the world altitude record for a snake, occurring up to 4,800 m in the Himalayas. There are 5 species of pit vipers in the Andaman and Nicobar, 5 in the Western Ghats and 8 in the Himalayas, east to Assam.

Habitat: They generally prefer cool, thick vegetation near stream edges, bamboo and other dense jungle foliage.

Habits: They are slow moving snakes and are active at night and sleep in the open by day. They protect themselves by camouflage. Although slow to defend themselves, they are capable of fast strikes and bites if injured or seriously troubled. They often vibrate their tail when frightened or cornered.

Young: Female gives birth to 4 or 5 young ones. The young possess brightly marked tails which they use as worm-like lures to attract small frogs and lizards. This remarkable habit is also observed in the New World Pit Vipers.

Food: Small ones feed on frogs and lizards. Larger ones tend to prefer rodents but seem to take frogs as well.

Status: As all Indian Pit Vipers are forest snakes, the loss of dense forested areas, particularly the evergreen rain forests, is reducing the population of several species.

Venom: Pit Vipers are rather small and their venom is low in toxicity, hence their bites are rarely serious. Bites are common in some plantation areas, but the victims are generally only incapacitated for a day or two.

Gaur | Bos gaurus

Labels: Indian Gaur, Indian Bison, Seladang, Gayal, Mithun, Tadok

Binomial name: Bos gaurus
Common name: Gaur

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Artiodactyla
Family:	Bovidae
Subfamily:	Bovinae
Genus:	Bos
Species:	B. gaurus

Salient Features:

Length – 2.5 to 3.3 m

Shoulder Height – 1.75 to 1.95 m

Weight – 650 to 900 Kg

Gestation Period – 275 days

Longevity – Approximately 30 years

Description: Gaur is largest of the wild cattle. They are found throughout Southern Asia, but the largest populations are in India. A personification of vigor and strength, Gaurs are exemplified by their massive head, deep chest, muscular shoulder ridge and sturdy whitish limbs. In mature males the sleek coat is dark whereas in females and juveniles it is dark brown. The horns are present at the side of the head and curve upwards growing up to 1.1 m. Unlike their appearance and profile, they are shy and calm and rarely attack unless tormented.

Status: Their IUCN status designates them as vulnerable.

Indian Spectacled Cobra | Naja naja

Labels: Indian Cobra, Spectacled Cobra, Naag

Binomial name: Naja naja
Common name: Indian Spectacled Cobra

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Elapidae Genus: Naja Species: N. naja

Type: VENOMOUS

Distinguishing Features: Medium to large sized; smooth, shiny scales; wide head and neck; wide black band on the underside of neck; characteristic hood marking on top of the neck.

Average Length: 1 m; At Birth: 25 cm; Maximum: 2 m (male).

Description: The Spectacled Cobra is a smooth-scaled snake with black eyes and, wide neck and head. Its colour varies from black or dark brown to yellowish white. Their body is usually covered with a speckled white or yellow pattern. Their well-known hood marking of the classic design shows a connected pair of rings. Sometimes this marking may be altogether absent. Cobras are often confused with Indian Rat Snakes. The Spectacled Cobra is the most widely distributed of the 3 sub-species of cobras in India and is one of the big four deadly snakes.

Distribution: Spectacled Cobras are found all over India, up to 4000 m above sea level.

Habitat: Rice growing areas, where plentiful of rats occur for their feast, is the common place for this snake. However, they are quite adaptable and can also be found in very dry parts of the country. Their preferred haunts include granaries, termite mounds, earth dams and rock piles. They usually multiply where rats are abundant.

Habits: Cobras are usually shy in nature and live out of man’s sight. Spreading their neck ribs, startling the intruder with bright eyes on the hood are the warning mechanisms of Spectacled Cobras. They hiss by a sharp ejection of air, when even more agitated. Some cobras in the North-eastern India can spit their venom for a short distance. They are active in the rains, like other snakes.

Young: The females lay about 12-30 eggs, usually in a rat hole or termite mound, between May and July. The young resemble the adult perfectly and disperse one or two weeks thereafter. Like many other snakes, cobras may breed more than a year.

Food: Young ones feed on insects, lizards, frogs, toads and small snakes. As they grow, their diet includes rodents, toads, frogs and birds in the order of preference. They normally maintain their grip until the prey is motionless.

Status: Cobras are hunted and killed for their skins. The Government of India has however controlled the export of cobra skins since 1973. Still, few tanneries deal with thousands of skins per day and continue to prosper.

Venom: Cobra venom affects the nervous system leading to respiratory paralysis and cardiac failure and eventually death. Usually less than lethal quantity is injected, however all cobra bites should be treated with immediate effect. Vast research is being done on cobra venom and it is found that small fractions destroy certain cancer cells in mice. Also, effective pain killers like ‘Cobroxin’ and ‘Nyloxin’ are made from cobra venom.

Indian One-horned Rhinoceros | Rhinoceros unicornis

Labels: Indian Rhinoceros, Rhinoceros, Rhino

Binomial name: Rhinoceros unicornis
Common name: One horned Rhinoceros

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Perissodactyla
Family:	Rhinocerotidae
Genus:	Rhinoceros
Species:	R. unicornis

Salient Features:

Length – Up to 3.8 m

Shoulder Height – 1.7 to 1.8 m

Weight – 1,816 to 2,270 Kg

Gestation Period – 16 months

Longevity – 30 to 45 years

Description: The One-horned Rhinoceros are heavily built animals. Their thick legs enable them in carrying such bulky body. But despite their enormous bulk, they can charge up to 30 mph even through thick scrub. Indian Rhinos are the largest of all Asian Rhinos. The males are larger and have thick neck fold as compared to the females. Their skin is heavily folded, up to 2 cm thick. This gives an appearance of plates of armor. They don’t have a true horn like in cattles. Their horns are entirely made of a mass of agglutinate hair and keratin, which gradually gets tough by some exudation from its skin and nostrils. These horns are merely attached to their skin, and may even fall off during battles between Rhinos, but it can grow another one. They are short sighted animals, but have keen sense of smell.

Status: Due to the assumed magical and aphrodisiac properties ascribed to its horn, the Indian Rhinos have been hunted almost to extinction. Their IUCN status shows them as endangered.

Leopard | Panthera pardus

Binomial name: Panthera pardus
Common name: Leopard

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Felidae
Genus:	Panthera
Species:	P. pardus

Salient Features:

Length – 0.9 to 1.9 m

Height – 43 to 79 cm

Weight – 25 to 90 Kg

Gestation Period – 90 to 112 days

Longevity – 12 years, 20 in captivity

Description: Leopards have a wide geographic range and habitat tolerance as compared to any of the big cats. They are one of the most adaptable cats and can exist almost anywhere i.e., it can find enough food and cover for itself. They live in all types of habitats like forests, woodlands, swamps, savannahs and rocky mountains. This big cat is an opportunistic hunter and they will eat just about everything. Monkeys, reptiles, rodents, amphibians, birds, wild pigs, fish and ungulates form the main diet of Leopards. They are skilled enough to carry animals that are twice their body weight. Furthermore, when it kills a prey, it carries them up onto the trees to eat it and also, in fear of the other big cats.

Status: Cheetah’s IUCN status is ‘endangered’.

Cheetah | Acinonyx jubatus

Labels: Indian Cheetah, Big Cat

Binomial name: Acinonyx jubatus
Common name: Cheetah

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Felidae
Subfamily:	Felinae
Genus:	Acinonyx
Species:	A. jubatus

Salient Features:

Length – 1.1 to 1.5 m

Height – 2.3 to 2.8 ft

Weight – 39 to 65 Kg

Gestation Period – 91 to 95 days

Longevity – 12 years, 17 in captivity

Description: Cheetahs are the fastest animal on land. They can reach up to 72 Km/hr in merely 2 seconds and have a top speed of 113 Km/hr. Their notably flexible spine and slim bodyline facilitates in running so swiftly. Cheetah’s enlarged nasal passages, heart and lungs make up for the essential increased air intake after sprinting. They feed on small to medium sized animals like hares, calves, gazelles, etc. A Cheetah needs almost half an hour to hold its breath after chasing a prey, to eat. However, if they do not succeed in grasping their target, they must quit, otherwise it can be fatal for them as their body temperature rises to almost 40.6°C (105°F). Females usually bear 3 to 5 cubs in a litter. The cubs stay with their mother till they are 12 to 20 months old.

Status: Cheetah is extinct in India, the last having been shot in 1951. Their IUCN status shows them as endangered.

Russell viper | Vipera russelii

Labels: Russell's viper, Daboia, Chain viper, Indian Russell's viper

Binomial name: Vipera russelii

Common name: Russell viper

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Viperidae
Subfamily:	Viperinae
Genus:	Vipera
Species:	V. russellii

Type: VENOMOUS

Distinguishing Features: Medium to large sized; strongly keeled scales; distinctive bright chain pattern; large triangular head.

Average Length: 1 m; At Birth: 24 cm; Maximum: 1.8 m (male).

Description: They are bulky, rough scaled snakes with vertical eye pupils and bright pattern. Body colour is usually brown or yellowish with dark, round spots edged with white and black pattern. Their underside is white or speckled, depending on the region where they occur. Russell Vipers can be identified by their short, fat body, triangular shaped head and regular chain-like pattern. Also the presence of bright symmetrical spots on their back makes them easily distinguishable. They sometimes resemble the fat, harmless common sand boas which however have shorter and blunter tails and irregular body patterns. The big four fatal snakes of India include the Russell Viper.

Distribution: They occur in hills and plains throughout India, up to 3,000 m.

Habitat: Russell Vipers reside in the open areas off the hilly regions and plain scrub jungle bordering farm lands. They are found in termite mounds and rat holes in very hot weather, but their preferred places are rock fissures, thick leaves, grass, thorn bushes and cacti. Pandanus bushes and Agave are their favourite abodes.

Habits: This snake may seem to be sluggish, but when aggravated they are capable of very fast movements in short spurts. Russell Vipers may bite in defence and make a hissing sound. They are coy and timid, unlike cobras which are proficient at quick escape. Bites usually happen as a result of accidents in the plantation, estate and farms where farmers unknowingly put their feet or hands in dense bushes, or step on a viper.

Young: Female vipers produce 20 to 40 living young, who are bright replicas of the parents, in the months during May to July.

Food: Young ones are wild in activity and can eat other snakes, lizards, mice, land crabs and sometimes even feed on scorpions and few arthropods. The adult vipers seem to be rodent-eaters, probably catching a bird.

Status: This species forms a main resource of the skin industry in South India. Russell Vipers are completely exterminated in some areas through enormous all-season collection.

Venom: Their venom is extremely toxic and the bite is one of the most lethal of all Indian snakes. So it should be urgently treated with ample anti-venom. This poisonous venom affects the blood and is used in medicine to check bleeding.