The third largest snake in India, the king cobra is also one of the most courageous, poisonous and aggressive snakes. Their hood is relatively less inflatable than that of the Indian Cobra. The body is blackish brown with 32-43 lighter bands running throughout its entire length king cobra have a voracious appetite. And their staple diet is snakes, poisonous as well as non-poisonous. They usually eat the lizards and rats also. Mating has been observed in March, with capulation that lasted for about an hour. The eggs are laid 5-6 weeks after mating. A maximum of 51 eggs have been recorded!
INDIAN COBRA (Naja naja):
One of the most notorious and poisonous snakes found in India, the cobra’s most distinctive features is its hood. There are three races mainly the spectacled cobra, the monocellate cobra, and the black cobra. Cobra feed principally on rats, frogs and toads, but can also take in lizards and snakes including other cobras! They have a weekness for ‘invertebrate’ (organism devoid of a backbone. E.g. earthworm, ants, cockroaches etc.) eggs. Mating occur in January, and the eggs are laid in April-May. The eggs between 12-22, hatch within 45 to 69 days. Hatchlings have active ‘poison glands’(Modified salivary glands which secret poison, a mixture of cell dissolving proteins. It’s a weapon for capturing prey, defense and as a digestive aid).
BAMBOO PIT VIPER (Trimersurus gramineus)
all vipers give birth to live young which get hatched inside the mother’s belly. They can be distinguished from all other groups of snakes by the presence of the loreal pit (Modified sensory pit present as a facial gland in vipers. It is heat sensitive, enabling the snake to locate and capture its prey). This beautiful, but poisonous snake has a glossy green back and yellowish white bottom. It is usually sluggish during the day. But when it is provoked anchors itself firmly by its ‘prehensile’(Organs other than limbs that can be used to grasp and climb) tail to branch and strikes with an open mouth. It prefers hilly forests above 450 meters in southern India. And has a weakness for bamboo forests. It has 7 to 15 live young at a time.
RAT SNAKE or FASCIOLATED RATSNAKE
This harmless, olive-brown snake is beautifully. Ornamented with black and white cross bars that gradually disappear along the mid body. This can be plucky and aggressive if irritated but temperaments very. It feeds on small mammals and amphibians. It is found throughout India, although it is fairly common southwest India. In Maharashtra’s konkan region, it is believed to be the female cobra. Little is known about breeding habits. And enacting possibly occurs in January with hatchings being born in July.
TREE SNAKE or COMMON INDIAN BRONZEBACK
(Dendrelaphis tristis):
This harmless snake prefers the tree tops to life on the ground. It is perfectly camouflaged among the leaves because of its uniform ruddy brown skin. This active snake is restless and a quick, both on the ground as well as in the trees. It springs on its prey. And feeds largely lizards and tree frogs. It also occasionally raids birds. Generally lively and plucky snake, its disposition varies from snake to snake. It is found in southern India and the Himalayan foothills in south India this perfectly harmless snake is considered fatally poisonous. This oviparous (Egg laying animal e.g. birds) snake lays its eggs between September-February. The 6-7 eggs in a clutch (number of eggs laid at a time given time) hatch 4-6 weeks after laying. And the gestation period is 4-6 months.
FLYING SNAKE or GOLDEN TREE SNAKE
(Chryopelea Ornata):
This beautiful and harmless black snake has narrow pale greenish-yellow cross bars. It is acute during the day, and prefers trees. But it is also frequently spotted in the grass and on low bushes. It feeds largely on geckos and other lizards. The 6-12 eggs are laid in May while hatchlings have been recorded in June.
http://www.indianwildlife.org/TYPES-OF-SNAKES.html
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