Snakes of Pune University Campus

Non-poisonous Snakes

  1. Common Blind Snake or Worm Snake Typhus braminus (many)
  2. Uropeltis ceylanicus (3)
  3. Pune Shieldtail Uropeltis phipsoni (2)
  4. Common Racer Coluber ventromaculatus (2)
  5. Common Ratsnake Pytas mucosus (many)
  6. Common Trinket Elaphe helena (2)
  7. Common Wolf Snake Lycodon aulicus (4)
  8. Checkered Keelback Natrix piscator (1)
  9. Green Keelback Macropisthodon plumicolor (many)
  10. Blackhead Snake Sibynophis subpunctatus (2)
  11. Banded Racer Coluber fasciolatus (2)

Poisonous Snakes

  1. Russel's Viper Vipera russeli (many)
  2. Binocellate Cobra Naja naja (many)
  3. Common Krait Bungarus caeruleus (3)

The number in the brackets indicates the number of specimens caught in the last five years. Russel's Viper and Green Keelback are probably the commonest snakes on campus. Almost all of the above mentioned snakes were caught by Ramana Athreya who used to be at NCRA (athreya@iap.fr). Almost all the snakes were caught in the vicinity of IUCAA or NCRA campuses of the University of Pune, India.

A snakebite by a poisonous snake is very dangerous. First aid should be administered immediately and the patient should seek urgent medical attention.

Snakes caught since June 1, 1997

  1. Russel's Viper Vipera russeli (7, 3 of them young ones)
  2. Binocellate Cobra Naja naja (5)
  3. Worm Snake Typhus braminus (4)
  4. Green Keelback Macropisthodon plumbicolor (3, 1 of them a young one)
  5. Ratsnake Pytas mucosus (4)
  6. Trinket Elaphe helena (2)
  7. Common Krait Bungarus caeruleus (1)
  8. Pune Shieldtail Uropeltis phipsoni (1)
  9. Common Wolf Snake Lycodon aulicus (2)