Snakes of Pune University Campus

Ratsnake Pytas mucosus
Ratsnake Pytas mucosus

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 (4)
  7. Common Wolf Snake Lycodon aulicus (5)
  8. Checkered Keelback Natrix piscator (2)
  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. Many indicates that the number of specimens caught is greater than 10. Russel's Viper and Green Keelback are probably the commonest snakes on campus. Most 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 at IUCAA/NCRA since June 1, 1998

  1. Russel's Viper Vipera russeli (5, 4 young ones with three from a single brood and one five footer)
  2. Binocellate Cobra Naja naja (5, including 2 young ones)
  3. Ratsnake Pytas mucosus (8, including 2 young ones and one dead one killed by a Cobra)
  4. Green Keelback Macropistodon plumbicolor (1 young one)
  5. Checkered Keelback Natrix piscator (1)
  6. Common Trinket Elaphe Helena (1)
  7. Common Wolf Snake Lycodon aulicus (1)

Would you like to know how these snakes were caught?