REPTILES OF KANHA TIGER RESERVE, MADHYA PRADESH

The class Reptilia comprises the cold-blooded amniotic vertebrates, which are exothermic or poikilothermic secretive creatures with a crawling mode of locomotion. They may be diurnal or nocturnal and are dweIlers on land, freshwater, sea (sub-pelagic) and trees (arboreal). Respiration in reptiles is by lungs (pulmonary) and they may be oviparous or viviparous. Body may be covered by scales or shields which may be soft or hard. Horny plates over the body were present in ancient Dinosaurs and ancestral stem reptiles. Reptiles mayor may not be with limbs. If limbs are present, they may be bi-dactyl, tri-dactyl or penta-dactyl, many species (snakes) are devoid of limbs, girdles and toes with exceptions of Pythons, Boas and worm snakes where limbs are represented by rudimentary spurs. Reptiles inhabit different ecosystems all over the world and are presently represented by tortoises, turtles, crocodilians, snakes, lizards and Rhyncocephalia (Sphenodon). Most of the' reptiles came in to existence about 210 million years back during the upper Permian period.


INTRODUCTION
The class Reptilia comprises the cold-blooded amniotic vertebrates, which are exothermic or poikilothermic secretive creatures with a crawling mode of locomotion. They may be diurnal or nocturnal and are dweIlers on land, freshwater, sea (sub-pelagic) and trees (arboreal). Respiration in reptiles is by lungs (pulmonary) and they may be oviparous or viviparous. Body may be covered by scales or shields which may be soft or hard. Horny plates over the body were present in ancient Dinosaurs and ancestral stem reptiles. Reptiles mayor may not be with limbs. If limbs are present, they may be bi-dactyl, tri-dactyl or penta-dactyl, many species (snakes) are devoid of limbs, girdles and toes with exceptions of Pythons, Boas and worm snakes where limbs are represented by rudimentary spurs. Reptiles inhabit different ecosystems all over the world and are presently represented by tortoises, turtles, crocodilians, snakes, lizards and Rhyncocephalia (Sphenodon).
Most of the' reptiles came in to existence about 210 million years back during the upper Permian period.
Snakes have elongated, tubercular, elastic and agile body, covered with overlapping scales and chitinous shields. Body scales in snakes may be oval, rhomboidal, and sub triangular with keels, pits and sutures. Tail in snakes may be smaIl, moderate or long. They may be cylindrical (Land snakes), prehensile (Arboreal snakes) or flat (Marine snakes). Eyelids in snakes are fused to form a transparent spectacle over the eye in which lower eyelid takes a major part. Pupil exhibits strong variations and has evolved according to the habitats (round in terrestrial species, horizontal or vertically elliptical in arboreal species, rudimentary in fussorial species. Snakes are devoid of tympanum or external ears. Tongue in snakes is long, narrow, forked at tip and retractile into a basal sheath. olfactory organ is connected directly with the posterior olfactory lobe of the brain.
Bones of the skull are most flexible and ligamentus. Teeth are aglyphous or solid in non-poIsonous *Desert Regional Station, Zoological Survey of India, Jodhpur
Habit and habitat: The species is arboreal and insectivorous. It is available in forests at low elevations.
Diagnostic characters: This small gecko has got a remarkable similarity with C. nebuloSliS in scalation but this species is devoid of enlarged dorsal tubercles on the back. It's colour pattern is also different and two main colour forms are recognised. Beddome's speciosus form, dorsum is having four dark brown, black-margined cross bands. In collegalensis dorsum is light brown to grey, with a series of large, rounded black margined spots arranged in pairs.
Distribution : INDIA: Central India and Hilly districts of Southern India.
Conservation status: A forest species, which is becoming vulnerable on account of habitat destruction as the forests are being cut at a fast rate at low elevations. Recorded from literature (Sanyal & Sur, 1995).

Cyrtodactylus nebulosus
Habit and habitat: The species is terrestrial and insectivorous. Habit and habitat : The species is insectivorous. It is available in trees, rocks, under stones and human dwellings.
Diagnostic characters : Head moderately large, snout obtusely pointed, 8 to 10 upper and 7 to 9 lower labials. Back with conical tubercles arranged in regular rows, colour brown or varying shades of grey with brown spots, whitish below. Femoral and preanal pores vary from 15 to 27.
Distribution : Throughout the Indian sub region.
Elsewhere: From Borneo and South China through much of Tropical Asia and the northern half of Africa.
Conservation status: Very common. Habit and habitat: Insectivorous and generally nocturnal but can be seen during day time also. Inhabits in the buildings, most agile, pugnacious and a marked climber.

Helnidactylus flaviviridis
Diagnostic characters: This large and robust gecko is with a pale-grey or greenish-gre}" brown or olive dorsum; back is with wavy, dark cross bands which are clearly visible during the day; belly is yellowish. Head is large with a broad snout; ear-opening is sub circular; head is covered with minute granules, which become more prominent and large on the snout. Upper labials 12-15 and lower labials 10-12, standard length 42-90 mm; tail length 38-90 nlm.
Distribution: Throughout India, but widely in North India.
Elsewhere: Arabia, Pakistan, Iran and shores of the red Sea. Recorded from literature (Agrawal, 1976. Sanyal & Sur, 1995 Habit and habitat: Insectivorous and nocturnal.  Habit alld habitat: Insectivorous and arboreal, sylvetic, most favourable abodes are the large trees of banyan, tamarind, mango etc. During the day these lizards hide under the bark and in crevices of these trees. Diagnostic characters: Body stout with a lateral fold; upper labial 10 to 12 and 8 to 10 lower labials. Dorsally head and body covered with fine granules intermixed with small tubercles irregularly scattered; scales on the underside small and imbricate. Digits rather long; 9 to 1 I lamellae under fourth toe. Tail strongly depressed with enlarged tubercles above. Males with 10 to 17 femoral pores on each side. Grey above and silvery white below. Back with conspicuous wavy cross bars. A dark line from eye to ear on each side of the head. Observation localities: Kisli and Mukki range (Banzar River).
Habit and habitat : This is a carnivorous species. Inhabits crevices, caves and other such structures in the rocks.
Diagnostic characters : This giant gecko in which dorsum is brown with dark-brown spots, underlating transverse bars and streaks; belly is dirty-white. Young individuals are more brilliantly coloured and spotted with dark brown. Head is large and prominent, with a bUlging on the tip of snout; eye is moderately large with a vertical pupil, and snout is having somewhat convex scales. Tail is longer than the head and body, slightly depressed, oval in section, verticillate. Standard length 83-122 mm; tail length 90-130 mm. Recorded from literature (Sanyal & Sur, 1995) Habit and habitat: The species is insectivorous and rock dwelling. Diagnostic characters: A small and slender skink; snout obtuse; supra-nasals entire, in contact with one another behind the rostral; frontal longer than the fronto-parietals and interparietal together; a pair of nuchals, rarely absent. Legs vestigial. Lower eyelid with a transparent disc. Young with two pronlinent yel10wish dorso-Iateral streaks. The dark basal spots on the back are united with each other and fronl 6 longitudinal lines down the back. The pattern, however, breaks up with age. Tail scarlet red in young which also fades with age.

Habit and habitat: Insectivorous and terrestrial.
Diagnostic characters: Brown or reddish-brown above, each scale with a more or less distinct dark spot forming longitudinal series; sides of neck and anterior part of body dark brown or black, thickly spotted with white; yellowish-white below. Body scales are almost equal, dorsals mayor may not be larger than the lateral scales; 26-28 scales round the middle of body; 63-72 scales are down the middle of hack. The limbs are moderately large, digits are short, 12-15 lamellae under the fourth toe; tail swollen at the base standard length 60 mm. Diagnostic characters : Head small, snout short not depressed; eye small. Fronto-nasal not broader than long; ear opening oval, slightly smaller than eye, 6 to 7 upper and 7 lower labials, 28 to 30 rows of scales round the body. Dorsal scales with 5 to 7 low keels; lateral scales slnooth, 12 to 17 lamellae under the fourth toe. Tail round. The colour pattern of this species varies. The general body colour is brown with or without spots. Observation localities: Kisli range Habit alld habitat: Insectivorous, burrowing and diurnal.
Diagnostic characters : Brownish or golden above; a light stripe edged above with black commences behind the supraciliary edge and passes along the side of the body and tail; a second borders the upper lip and passes along the flank, the interval between the two light stripes being black, or green spotted with black sometimes the lower light stripe may bordered with black below. Lower parts greenish-white, the tail and hind-limbs often reddish in life, Standard length 50 Il1n1.
tail length 100 mm. Diagnostic characters : It is a mediuln-sized, dark brown monitor, about 72-75 cm. in head and body length. The tail is very strong, long, compressed and measures about 100 cm. in length. The snout is convex temlinally. The nostrils are oblique slits lying midway between the eye and the end of the muzzle. The tongue is very long, forked and protrusible.
Distribution : Throughout India.
Habit and habitat : Wonns feed on soft bodied larva and eggs of ants and termites. Lives beneath the soil, or stones or debris. They are also found under logs, moist leaves and humus in wet forests and even city gardens.
Diagnostic characters: Length about 170 mm.; colouration brown or blackish above, lighter below, snout, anal region and end of tail usually whitish. Snout rounded, strongly projecting; nostrils lateral; eye distinct, in the ocular shield or at its junction with the supra-ocular; 290-320 transverse rows of scales.

Distribution : Throughout India including Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Elsewhere: Sri Lanka, Indo-China, and South-East Asia. Habit and habitat : Paddy fields, ponds edges, thick grass and bushes are favoured places. They are diurnal and spend nights sleeping under rocks, holes or the branches of trees or bushes.
Frogs arc the main diet but also take toads, small lizards and rodents.
Diagllostic characters: Olive-greenish or brownish above with black spots or reticulated crossbars intersected by two dorso-Iateral yellow or buff stripes; on the hind part of the body the stripes are best marked and the black spots least evident, the green colour being almost uniform darkolive. Lower parts whitish. Top of head olive, unifonn or the shields edged with black, lips yellowish.
Distribution : Throughout India.
Elsewhere: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Habit and habitat: Semi-aquatic and vicinity of fresh water bodies.
Diagnostic characters: Olive-brown or greenish above, uniform or with two series of small black spots along the back. A more or less distinct dark lateral streak sometimes present. Upper lip, outer row of scales and lower surface yellow. Scales in 19 : 19 : 17 rows, more or less distinctly keeled, the keels strongest on the posterior part of the body and tail. Recorded from literature (Agrawal 1976, Sanyal & Sur, 1995.
Habit and habitat : The alert, fast snake favours high grass or bushes. They occupy rodent burrows, rock piles and heavy bushes. They are diurnal and feed on frogs, insects, mice and rats.
Diagnostic characters: Light or dark olive-brown above, beautifully ornamented with narrow cross-bars on the anterior half of the body; these are formed by a pattern of white, and dark brown or black, the colours being more or less equally distributed upon the scales; posterior part of body with indistinct dark cross-bars or spots, these markings gradually disappearing towards the tail, which is uniform brown in colour; head above marbled with light and dark olive, and two white spots,. one on each side of the interparietal suture. Lower part whitish or yellowish. Total length: male 1015 mm, tail 250 mm; female 1000 mm, tail 210 mm. Habit and habitat: Arboreal occupying low bushes, thorn, thorn trees such as "Scacia, toddy palms and Palmyra. They are diurnal and very active even during the hottest part of a summer day.
They are usually found in the open and rarely hide. Mainly feed on frogs and lizards.
Diagnostic characters : Bronze-brown or purplish-brown above, light greyish, greenish or yellowish below. A more or less distinct buff flank stripe along the outer two scale rows, edged or spotted with bl"ack, an indistinct black temporal stripe extending to the neck, where it may break up into vertical bars, vertebral scales on neck, where it may break up into vertical bars. Upper lip yellow.
Distribution : Throughout India.
Elsewhere: Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Habit and habitat: During the hot weather, Trinket snakes live deep in termite mounds, rock piles and crevices. In the cool season they emerge and are found in leafy trees and bushes. They are active during night and day. The adult is mainly a rodent eater, killing its prey by constriction.
Occasionally, birds and their eggs are also eaten.
Diagnostic characters : Light or dark brown above; with dark brown or black cross-bars containing white ocelli, these are most conspicuous anteriorly and on the sides more than on the back, this pattern gradually disappears on the hinder part of the body, which is brown above with a broad dark stripe on each side; a black vertical streak below the eye and an oblique one behind it, lower parts yellowish.
Distribution : Throughout India.
Elsewhere: Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Coluber radiatus
Diagnostic characters: Snout twice as long as the eye; Body colouration above greyish-brown, fawn or yellowish-brown, sometimes with a reddish or greenish tinge in life, with four black stripes a short distance behind the neck; the upper pair, on either side of the vertebral line, are broad, the outer pair on scale rows 3 are much narrower and are usually broken into a series of elongated spots on the anterior part of the body. 1943. Lycodon aulicus, Smith,Fauna Brit. India,Reptilia & Amphibia,3 : 263. 1991. Lycodon aulicus, Sanyal,Fauna of Orissa,4 : 69. 2003. Lycodon aulicus, Sharma,Hand book Indian Snakes: 123. Observation localities: Kisli range (lndri meadow, Forest Rest House) Habit and habitat: The snake most often seen near human habitations. They are nocturnal and feed on skins, geckos, lizards and frogs.
Diagnostic characters : Snout more or less spatulate and projecting beyond the lower jaw. Body colouration brown or greyish-brown above, with 12-19 white cross-bars which expand lateral1y or bifurcate, enclosing triangular patches; the bars may be pure white or heavily speckled with brown, they are sometimes reduced to short vertebral spots. Upper lip white or spotted with brown.
Distribution: Throughout India.
Diagnostic characters: Head rather broad and short, nostril between two nasals. Body colour grass-green above, a black stripe from the eye to the angle of the mouth and more or less regular transverse black spots or cross-bars on the back and tail. Belly whitish-yellow or plumbeons, rarely with darkish spots. Habit and habitat: Diurnal in habits but in populated areas may not be commonly seen out during the day. Mainly eat rodents and occasionally feeds on frogs, lizards, birds and even small snakes.  Habit and habitat : It inhabits fields, low scrub jungles and are common in the vicinity of human habitation. Feed on mainly snakes, lizards and rodents. They are generally nucturnal.
Diagnostic characters: Length usually less than 2 metres. Black or bluish-black above with narrow white crossbars, which are least distinct on the anterior part of the body, or entirely absent. The eyes are small and very dark which makes the pupil almost invisible. Diagnostic characters: Young-light greyish or brownish above, unifonn or with dark reticulations chiefly to the interstitial skin; or with dark transverse or chevron-shaped cross-bars. The bars on the hood are blacker than those on the body and extend across the under surface; belly whitish. Adultbrownish to blackish, usually without any other distinct markings, lighter below than above. Habit and habitat: Dry and semi-arid tracts and open country. They are nocturnal and feed on sn'akes~ lizards, mice, rodent and other arthropods.
Diagnostic characters: Body length generally 3-4 feet but can reach 6 feet. Scales in 27-33 rows, supranasal strongly crescentic. Snout obtuse, with distinct canthus, nostrils very large. Light brown above, with 3 longitudinal series of large rounded or oval spots, which are usually brown in the centre, have a black margin and are edged again with white.
Distribution : Throughout India up to 3000 m. above sea level.
Conservation status: Not very common.

DISCUSSION
The reptilian fauna of KTR ;s represented by 39 species/subspecies belonging to 30 genera under 12 families. The major orders of reptiles represented in the fauna of KTR are: collegalensis) and Clouded Ground Gecko (Cyrtodactylus nebulosus) are rare species. Among the Varanidae, only one species, the Bengal Monitor (Varanus bengalensis) is commonly found in the forest. It has a very long, forked and protrusible tongue.
Two families of poisonous snakes and three families of non-poisonous snakes represent the Serpentes. The Elapidae include the Common Cobra (Naja naja naja) , Black Cobra (Naja naja oxiana) and the Common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus). The Cobra is the most familiar poisonous snake in India and much admired for its magnificent hood. It can move very swiftly. The Common Krait is mainly terrestrial and nocturnal in habit. It is deadly poisonous like the Cobra. Both the Cobra and Krait possess neurotoxic venom, which causes death by respiratory failure.
The family Viperidae are represented by three species : The Green or Bamboo Pit Viper (Tril11ereSUrus graI11ineus), Russell's viper (Vipera russelli) and the Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus). In the vipers, the head is broad and the snout is obtuse, thus making the head appear distinct from the trunk. The Russell's viper is a long, thickset snake easily distinguished by the three longitudinal rows of oval blotches on its trunk. The Saw-scaled Viper is much smaller in size. The vipers possess haemotoxic venom that causes death by haematuria. The Russell's viper can be JTIorc dangerous than the Cobra as it is a sluggish creature and when disturbed, instead of moving away quietly, it can attack unprovoked.
The Typhlopidae are small worm-like snakes and represented by one species, the COlnmon Worm Snake (Ranlpho.l)'phlops bralninus).
The Boidae are represented by one form, the India Rock Python (Python 111olurus). The Python is second largest among Indian snakes. It is both terrestrial and arboreal in habit and has a peculiar method of catching prey. It hangs from the branch of a tree in pursuit of an unwary prey. When an animal comes within attacking range, it flings its body upon the prey and coils round it.
The family Colubridae include most of the non-poisonous snake species found in nature. The Rat Snake (Ptyas Inucosus) is a long and swiftly moving snake, which readily devours rodents.