A study in contrast
Venomous, striking,repulsive, beautiful, slimy, adept hunters, vindictive , slothful, groundhugging denizens & graceful arboreal citizens.
Throughout history & geography, snakes have been frequently reviled, unilaterally feared, consistently persecuted, seldom tolerated & in some cases even venerated.
Most snakes are non venomous & pose no threat to us. Even the ones that are venomous will rarely attack unprovoked & most would rather scoot than strike.
Snakes are worshipped & reviled here, in India. Maybe, in equal measure.
I'm in awe of these slender, limbless, fragile creatures who nevertheless, boast of an array of tricks that would make any comic superhero proud.
Malabar Pit Viper (Trimeresurus malabaricus)
Agumbe is the 'King Cobra' capital of the world.
This viper ain't so bad either.
Malabar Pit Viper (Trimeresurus malabaricus).
This is the classic viper strike position, an S curve.
Although this species is venomous, it's bite is non lethal.
However, a bite will lead to serious tissue damage and/or amputation if not treated soon.
Malabar Pit Viper (Trimeresurus malabaricus)
This is one of my favourite picture's ever. The pièce de résistance is the tongue.
Taken in Pushpagii Wildlife Sanctuary.
Saw Scale Viper (Echis carinatus)
One of the big 4 (snakes resposnsible for the most number of deaths in India).
This specimen had chewing gum on his scales & eyes.
We were able to remove it before releasing him in the wild.
Spectacled Cobra (Naja Naja)
One of the big 4 (Spectacled Cobra, Common Krait, Saw Scale Viper & Russell'sViper)
This individual is one of the largest I've come acros,easily more that 6.5 ft in length.
What's even more impressive is his height while standing.
This one is not to be trifled with.
Indian Python (Python molurus)
Can grow to over 10 ft in length. This one though was a little over 4 ft.
Love the eyes.
Trinket Snake (Coelognathus helena)
This is non venomous & is quite a small snake. They expand their hoods when threatened,exposing black interscalar markings. Gotta love their eye colour :-)
Checkered keelback (Xenochrophis piscator).
A common non venomous snake found in lakes & rivers across India.
This particular snake looks extremely curious.
Either that or mirroring?!
Russell's Boa (Gongylophis conicus)
This pattern reminded me of a chocolate Batman on waffles.
Spectacled Cobra (Naja Naja {one of the coolest names ever})
This cobra made a dash for the tree immediately after its release.
He definitely wanted his mugshot.
Russell's Viper (Daboia russelii)
One of the big 4. Extremely venomous.
Spectacled Cobra (Naja Naja)
The proverbial Snake eyes.
Green Vine Snake (Oxybelis fulgidus)
The interscalar warning colours have blue, white & black.
Quite a combo.
Spectacled Cobra (Naja Naja)
This young cobra has such smooth scales that he looks slimy.
A common misconception.
No more than 20 cms but already a killer.
Buff Striped Keelback (Amphiesma stolatum)
A special memory.
The first snake that i have had the privilege of rescuing.
A juvenile & no more than 15 cms in length, this non venomussnake was released into the wild.
Russell's Viper (daboia russelii)
The patterns are unmistakable in b&w.
Very cool.
Green Vine Snake (Oxybelis fulgidus)
The ventral scales are extremely smooth & remarakbly resilient.
Spectacled Cobra (Naja Naja)
Dancing to the sun.
Travancore Wolf Snake (Lycodon travancoricus)
The brilliant cobalt blue interscalar threat display.
I'd be shocked too, if I saw flashes of blue on an otherwise brown snalke.
