Herpetofauna of Badlapur

This is a Checklist of Reptile Species found in Kulgaon-Badlapur Region, District : Thane, Maharashtra, India. (19' 9' 0" North : 73' 16' 0" East). I have been working with a group of interested individuals in this region for the past 10 years. The motive is conservation and Records of Reptile Species. This checklist is being updated to the best of our knowledge. Still there can be records which are not covered in this. Only confirmed records are being included and the checklist is tried to be kept precise.

SNAKES

1) Brahminy Worm Snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus)
    Family : Typhlopidae
    Status : Occasional
    Type    : Non-venomous
    Length : Minimum : 35 mm
                   Adult         : 125 mm
                   Maximim  : 230 mm
    Notes   : A very small snake which looks similar to worm. It can be distinguished only by  seeing the flickering tongue. Lives under the ground for most of the time and can therefore be an occasional sighting.

Ramphotyphlops braminus (Pic : Unmesh Barbhai, Jejuri)

                                                                                                                                          

2) Beaked Worm Snake (Grypotyphlops acutus)   
    Family : Typhlopidae
    Status : Occasional
    Type    : Non-venomous

    Length : Maximum : 600 mm (24 inches) (2 feet)
    Notes   : A underground dweller. Larger than the Brahminy Worm Snake. Looks similar to a worm. Snout pointed like a beak. hence the name.  

Grypotyphlops acutus (Pic : Unmesh Barbhai, Jejuri)

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3) Indian Rock Python (Python molurus molurus)
    Family : Pythonidae
    Status : Uncommon
    Length : Minimum  : 500 mms
                   Adult         : 3000 mms
                   Maximum : 7620 mms
   Notes : The Indian Rock Python prefers to live in vast areas with least human disturbance. Found in Caves and Large Rock crevices when searched for. Mostly listed from Thick forested areas around the villages. More than one Pythons living at a same place and sharing the hiding is also seen.

Python molurus molurus (Pic : Prathamesh Ghadekar)

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4) Common Sand Boa (Gongylophis conicus)
    Family : Boidae
    Status : Common
    Length : Minimum : 125 mms
                   Adults      : 500 mms
                   Maximum: 1000 mms
   Notes : A common, stout and slow moving snake which is mostly mistaken as a Russel's Viper or a Python baby. In both the cases, it is killed because of the fear about the two snakes. A good burrower, it tends to avoid attention by moving very slowly and emerging mostly in the dark.

Gongylophis conicus (Pic : Prathamesh Ghadekar)

         
 

The Common Cat Snake (Boiga trigonata) Mating.

 Herping trips certainly add tonnes to your knowledge and information about the Natural Behaviour  of species and give you an opportunity to view some really rare occurrences. On such a Herping trip recently got a chance to experience the Mating of Boiga trigonata in wild !!!

Location : Badlapur, Dist : Thane, Maharashtra. (19 ' 9 ' 0" North : 73 ' 16 ' 0 " East)
Date       : Friday, 24th June, 2011.
Time       : 8 : 30 p.m.

The Full Body Picture of the Mating Pair.

       The sighting was special indeed but to add to the joys, the snakes seemed to be very much undisturbed even when we moved very close to them. They were very much engrossed in the act which gave me a lot of time to click some useful pictures for record.
       

CLOSE-UP of the male entering the female with it's hemipenes

CLOSE-UP of the male entering the female with it's hemipenes

BEHAVIOUR : The Pair seemed to be very gentle and shows no signs of nervousness even as we went very close to have some picture treat. Cat Snakes (Boiga sps.) are generally very less nervous with human once they are habituated. But this wild pair also displayed the same kind of behaviour. The Mating process continued as long as we stayed there (1 to 1.5 hours). The Female will lay about 7 to 15 eggs in a span of two months (approximately) if everything goes right.

A Head CLOSE-UP of the Pair.