Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Biodiversity - Snake Sighting: Ahaetulla nasuta

Over the course of the project we have seen snakes in the village and out in the forest. With the help of our new snake identification book we were able to identify a snake we saw this week sunbathing on the road between Daw and Jaree’s houses.

Photo above by L. Shyamal, Wynaad 2006

The snake was a Long-nosed Whip Snake, which thankfully is not dangerous!! Also known as the Green Vine Snake (Ahaetulla nasuta).

It is easily identified by its long, pointed nose and long tail. Its venom is mild and causes swelling which goes down in 2 to 3 days. It is green, diurnal and arboreal, hunts frogs and lizards, and normally lives in forested and agricultural areas, but can also be found on roads like the one that we saw.

Photo left by Sandilya Theuerkauf
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