There are almost 300 species of snakes native to India but only four are responsible for the majority of deaths.
Cobra -Indian Cobra -Naja Naja/ Nag
Naja naja is one of the most poisonous snake species native to the Indian subcontinent. The Indian cobra also known as spectacled cobra is a member of the big four snakes of India, the four species which inflict the most snakebites on humans. Nag snake is now protected in India under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972).
King Cobra
Indian King cobra is the world’s longest venomous snake found predominantly in forests from India through Southeast Asia. King cobra lives in dense highland forests, preferring areas dotted with lakes and streams and as per Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 a person guilty of killing the snake can be imprisoned for up to 6 years.
Python -Indian Rock Python/ Ajgar
Indian rock python also known as Ajgar in Hindi is a largest nonvenomous python species found in Indian Sub-Continent. Indian python found from the hill forests of Western Ghats and Assam are darker, while those from the Deccan Plateau including grasslands, swamps, marshes, rocky foothills and woodlands.
Russells Viper -Daboia
Daboia is one of the venomous Old World viper found throughout the Indian subcontinent, being a member of the big four snakes in India, Daboia is also one of the species responsible for causing the most snakebite incidents in India. Russell’s viper mostly found in open, grassy or bushy areas,West Coast and hills.
Saw-Scaled Viper
Saw-Scaled Viper is another most venomous viper species found in parts of Asia and especially in the Indian subcontinent. It is the smallest member of the Big Four snakes which are responsible for causing the most snakebite cases and deaths.
Pit Viper
Pit vipers are from the family of venomous vipers found in Asia especially in the western ghat region of Indian subcontinent and dense green forest. As ambush predators, crotalines are mostly nocturnal, preferring to avoid high daytime temperatures and to hunt when their favored prey are also active.
Krait – Indian Krait -Common Krait
Indian krait is one of the most dangerous member of Big Four Indian snakes family, a species of venomous snake found in the jungles of the Indian subcontinent. Common krait inflicting the most snakebites on humans in India,found in fields and low scrub jungle, as well as inhabited areas.
Rat Snake -Dhaman
Indian rat snake also known as dhaman is a common species of colubrid snake found in parts of Asia and Indian subcontinent. Dhamans are very large,non-venomous,harmless to humans and fast-moving snake,frequently found in urban areas where rodents thrive.
Boa
Indian sand boa is a nonvenomous boa species endemic to Indian subcontinent and near by countries. Boa is one of the largest snake found in the Thar desert region of India and its diet consists mainly of mammals such as rats, mice, and other small rodents.
Water Snake -Keelback -Dhodia
Asiatic water snake or Checkered keelback is common species of nonvenomous snake found in Indian subcontinent. Dhodia snake is found in or near by freshwater lakes or rivers and feeds mainly on small fish and water frogs.
Trinket Snake
The trinket snake is a nonvenomous constrictor species of colubrid snake, A medium-sized, slender snake found all over India up to an elevation of about 4000 mts. in the Himalayas.
Banded Racer
The Banded Racer is a species of colubrid snake found in India, Banded Racer is a Non-venomous snake of small to medium-sized found in the plains of India,scientifically known as Argyrogena fasciolata.
Vine Snake
The vine snake is a slender green tree snake found in India, Its mildly venomous normally feeds on frogs and lizards using its binocular vision to hunt. Green vine snake is the most widespread Ahaetulla species of India.
Cat Snake
Indian gamma snake also known as common cat snake is a species of rear-fanged colubrid. Cat snake geographic range is distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent, in India this species have almost identical geographic range with Saw-scaled viper.
Dog-Faced Snake
Dog-faced water snake is commonly found in mangroves forest of Sunderbans, streams, ponds and into the mud. The mildly venomous snake is an aquatic and nocturnal snake, feeds mainly on fish and is known to consume eels. Roar – The Tigers of Sunderbans has shown that its team is chased by dog-faced water snakes.
