Showing posts with label Reptilia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reptilia. Show all posts

Monday 15 October 2018

Asiatic water snake (Xenochrophis piscator)

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SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Xenochrophis
Species: X. piscator

Binomial name: Xenochrophis piscator (Schneider, 1799)
Other name : Checkered Keelback, Doodhe Saap (Nepali)

Special Feature :  It is a common species of nonvenomous snake. This snake is found in or near freshwater lakes or rivers. It feeds mainly on small fish and water frogs

Tuesday 26 August 2014

Python bivittatus (Burmese python) - Sikkim Snake


Python bivittatus (Burmese python)

Venue: Burdang, Singtam,  East Sikkim

Date: June 24, 2014

Pic:
Python bivittatus (Burmese python)

Venue: Burdang, Singtam,  East Sikkim

Date: June 24, 2014

Pic:

In one of a rare instance, a dead python was recovered from the banks of River Teesta near ATTC College, Burdang. It was latter identifies as Burmese python (Python bivittatus).
According to the locals, the snake was 12 feet long and 1.6 m in circumference. It was later on handed over to OM Gurung, Block Officer, Wild Life Department of Fores, Rangpo Range.  
It should be noted that according to The Gazetter of Sikkim (1891), forest officials had arrested several persons for killing a 4 m. long Indian Python (Python moluru bivittatus) near Singtam. 

Scientific classification
Kingdom:            Animalia
Phylum:               Chordata
Class:                   Reptilia
Order:                  Squamata
Family:                Pythonidae
Genus:                 Python
Species:                P. bivittatus
Binomial name:    Python bivittatus (Kuhl, 1820)
Other Names: Burmese python
Special feature:  The Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is one of the five largest snakes in the world, native to a large variation of tropic and subtropic areas of Southern- and Southeast Asia. Until 2009 they were considered a subspecies of Python molurus, but now are recognized as belonging to a distinct speciesThey are often found near water and are sometimes semi-aquatic, but can also be found in trees. Wild individuals average 3.7 metres (12 ft) long, but have been known to reach 5.74 metres (19 ft).  This python is an excellent swimmer and needs a permanent source of water. It can be found in grasslands, marshes, swamps, rocky foothills, woodlands, river valleys, and jungles with open clearings. They are good climbers and have prehensile tails.
Wild populations are considered to be "threatened" and are listed on Appendix II of CITES. IUCN has recently listed the Burmese python as "Vulnerable", reflecting its overall population decline. Important reasons for the decline are trade for skins and for food; habitat degradation may be a problem in some upland areas. In Hong Kong, it is a protected species under Wild Animals Protection Ordinance Cap 170. (Wikipedia)
  
When compared with Indian Rock Python : 
 by Vivek Sharma    (ReptileIndia)
Burmese Pythons have side patches (on flank) more defined and much larger than those found in Indian Rock Python. In Indian Rock Python they are very small and usually not much significant to discuss. Additionally Burmese Python has much less or no yellow-brown amounts on body while in Indian Rock Python you can find these two colors have much significance.

Monday 3 March 2014

Indotestudo elongata (Elongated tortoise) - Sikkim Reptile


Indotestudo elongata (Elongated tortoise)

Venue: Rhenock, Chalamthang,  East Sikkim
Date: June 27, 2011
Pic: DEEPEN PRADHAN, RHENOCK
Indotestudo elongata (Elongated tortoise)

Venue: Rhenock, Chalamthang,  East Sikkim
Date: June 27, 2011
Pic: DEEPEN PRADHAN, RHENOCK

In my little knowledge there are two instance that a tortoise was ever recorded in Sikkim. on both ocassion the tortoise was reported to be Indotestudo elongata. 
* The first recorded instance was during the last week of July 2008 a little yellow tortoise was found by two labourers woring at the site of a Rock Garden construction, at the base of nearby Tarey Bhir (South Sikkim) on the bank of a seasonal rivulet called Khanni Khola.that was later identified by Usha Lachungpa Sr. Research Officer (WL) identified it as a male Sal Forest Tortoise Indotestudo elongata (Blyth) of the Family Testudinidae.
* The second finding was from Chalamthang near Rhenock (East Sikkim) on June 27, 2011. The yellowish color tortoise weighed around 3.5 to 4 Kg. It was latter taken to Kitam Bird Sanctuary. It was recsued by Mani Kumar Pradhan, resident of Chalamthang. The department confirmed the species as Indotestudo elongata, an endangered species.
This cold-blooded reptile is one of the only four land tortoises found in India. It is legally protected under Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 as amended up to 2006.