List of snakes of South Asia (Colubridae)

The following is a list of colubrid snakes of South Asia, primarily covering the region covered by mainland India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, parts of Myanmar and the Andaman and Nicobar Island chains. This forms part of the complete list of snakes of South Asia.

Family Colubridae[]

This section is broken into sub-sections based on genera.

Ahaetulla[]

Gunther's vine snake Ahaetulla dispar Southwest India
Green vine snake Ahaetulla nasuta India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Indo-China
Oriental green snake Ahaetulla prasina Eastern India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Indo-China, Malay region
Brown vine snake Ahaetulla pulverulenta Southwest India, Sri Lanka
Ahaetulla laudankia, peninsular India

Amphiesma[]

Boulenger's keelback Amphiesma parallelum India, Nepal, Myanmar, China, Indo-China
Eastern striped keelback Amphiesma platyceps India (Kashmir, Northeast), Nepal
Buff-striped keelback Amphiesma stolatum Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Indo-China
Amphiesma khasiense
Hill Keelback Amphiesma monticola India
Amphiesma nicobariense
Amphiesma pealii
Amphiesma xenura
Amphiesma modestum
Amphiesma sieboldii

Argyrogena[]

Banded racer Argyrogena fasciolata Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh

Aspidura[]

Boie's rough-sided snake Aspidura brachyorrhos Sri Lanka
Cope's rough-sided snake Aspidura copei Sri Lanka
Deraniyagala's rough-sided snake Aspidura deraniyagalae Sri Lanka
Drummond-Hay's rough-sided snake Aspidura drummondhayi Sri Lanka
Gunther's rough-sided snake Aspidura guentheri Sri Lanka
Common rough-sided snake Aspidura trachyprocta Sri Lanka

Atretium[]

Olive keelback water snake Atretium schistosum India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka

Balanophis[]

Sri Lanka blossom krait Sri Lanka

Blythia[]

Iridescent snake Blythia reticulata Northeast India, China, Myanmar

Boiga[]

Barnes' cat snake Boiga barnesii Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan cat snake Boiga ceylonensis India, Nepal, Sri Lanka
Green cat snake Boiga cyanea India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Indo-China
Forsten's cat snake Boiga forsteni India, Nepal, Sri Lanka
Many-spotted cat snake Boiga multomaculata Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Indo-China, China
Orange cat snake Boiga ochracea East and Northeast India, Myanmar
Common cat snake Boiga trigonata Central Asia, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Nicobarese cat snake Boiga wallachi India (Nicobars)
Boiga multifasciata
Boiga quincunciata
Boiga ocellata
Boiga nuchalis
Boiga gokool
Boiga dightoni
Boiga dendrophila
Boiga cynodon
Boiga beddomei
Boiga andamanensis

Calamaria[]

Collared Reed Snake Calamaria pavimentata

Cantoria[]

Cantor's Water Snake Cantoria violacea

Cerberus[]

Dog-faced water snake Cerberus rynchops Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Indo-China, Malay region

Cercaspis[]

Sri Lankan wolf snake Cercaspis carinatus Sri Lanka

Chrysopelea[]

Ornate flying snake Chrysopelea ornata Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, India
Sri Lankan flying snake Chrysopelea taprobanica Southwest India, Sri Lanka
Paradise flying snake Chrysopelea paradisi

Coluber[]

Glossy-bellied racer Coluber ventromaculatus India, Sri Lanka
Coluber rhodorachis
Coluber karelini
Coluber gracilis
Coluber bholanathi
Coluber vittacaudatus

Coronella[]

Indian Smooth Snake Coronella brachyura

Dendralaphis[]

Boulenger's bronzebacked tree snake Dendrelaphis bifrenalis Sri Lanka
Schokar's Bronzeback tree snake Dendrelaphis schokari, Sri Lanka
Dendrelaphis girii India
Stripe-tailed bronzebacked tree snake Dendrelaphis caudolineatus India, Sri Lanka
Blue bronzebacked tree snake Dendrelaphis cyanochloris India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand
Painted bronzebacked tree snake Dendrelaphis pictus Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Malay region
Common bronzebacked tree snake Dendrelaphis tristis Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Dendrelaphis humayuni
Dendrelaphis grandoculis
Dendrelaphis gorei

Elachistodon[]

Indian egg-eating snake Elachistodon westermanni India, Nepal, Bangladesh

Elaphe[]

Yellow-striped trinket snake Elaphe flavolineata India (Andamans), Malay region
Common trinket snake Elaphe helena Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Himalayan trinket snake Elaphe hodgsonii India (Himalayas), Nepal
Elaphe mandarina
Elaphe porphyracea
Elaphe prasina
Copperhead trinket snake Elaphe radiata India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Indo-China, China
Elaphe taeniura

Enhydris[]

Dussumier's water snake Enhydris dussumieri India
Common smooth water snake Enhydris enhydris Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Indo-China, Malay region
Rice Paddy Snake Enhydris plumbea
Siebold's Water Snake Enhydris sieboldii

Fordonia[]

Crab-eating Water Snake Fordonia leucobalia

Gerardia[]

Cat-eyed fishing snake Gerardia prevostiana Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malay region

Gongylosoma[]

Gongylosoma nicobariensis
Gonyosoma cantoris
Gonyosoma frenatum
Red-tailed Green Ratsnake Gonyosoma oxycephalum

Haplocercus[]

Black-spined snake Haplocercus ceylonensis Sri Lanka

Liopeltis[]

Lesser stripe-necked snake Liopeltis calamaria Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka
Liopeltis rappi
Liopeltis stoliczkae

Hemorrhois[]

Spotted Whip Snake Hemorrhois ravergieri

Homalopsis[]

Puff-faced Water Snake Homalopsis buccata

Liopeltis[]

Günther's Reed Snake Liopeltis frenatus

Lycodon[]

Gunther's bridal snake India, Sri Lanka, False Island (off the Arakan coast of Myanmar)
Vellore bridal snake India, Sri Lanka
Gammie's wolf snake Lycodon gammiei
White-banded wolf snake Lycodon septentrionalis
Banded Wolf Snake Lycodon fasciatus
Yellow-spotted Wolf Snake Lycodon flavomaculatus
Laotian Wolf Snake Lycodon laoensis
Mackinnon's Wolf Snake Lycodon mackinnoni
Andaman Wolf Snake Lycodon tiwarii
Zaw's Wolf Snake Lycodon zawi
Common wolf snake Lycodon aulicus Pakistan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar
Andamanese wolf snake Lycodon capucinus India, Myanmar, Thailand, Indo-China, China, Hong Kong
Yellow-speckled wolf snake Lycodon jara Nepal, India, Bangladesh
Shaw's wolf snake Lycodon striatus Transcapsia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka
Travancore wolf snake Lycodon travancoricus India

Lytorhynchus[]

Sind Longnose Sand Snake Lytorhynchus paradoxus

Macropisthodon[]

Green Keelback Macropisthodon plumbicolor Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

Oligodon[]

Theobald's Kukri Snake Oligodon theobaldi
Kukri Snake Oligodon affinis
White-striped kukri snake Oligodon albocinctus India, Bangladesh, Myanmar
Common kukri snake Oligodon arnensis Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Templeton's kukri snake Oligodon calamarius Sri Lanka
Cantor's kukri snake Oligodon cyclurus Bangladesh, Eastern India
Spot-tailed kukri snake Oligodon dorsalis India, Bangladesh, Myanmar
Half-lined kukri snake Oligodon sublineatus Sri Lanka
Variegated kukri snake Oligodon taeniolatus Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
Black-spotted kukri snake Oligodon venustus India
Nagarkot Kukri Snake Oligodon erythrogaster
Günther's Kukri Snake Oligodon cinereus
Assam Kukri Snake Oligodon catenata
Shorthead Kukri Snake Oligodon brevicauda
Abor Hills Kukri Snake Oligodon melanozonatus
Nikhil's Kukri Snake Oligodon nikhili
Oligodon woodmasoni
Namsang Kukri Snake Oligodon erythrorhachis
Walnut Kukri Snake Oligodon juglandifer
Bluebelly Kukri Snake Oligodon melaneus
Oligodon templetoni

Pareas[]

Assam snail-eater Pareas monticola Bangladesh, India (Himalayan foothills)

Psammodynastes[]

Mock viper Psammodynastes pulverulentus India, Myanmar, Thailand, Indo-China, China, Malay region
Painted Mock Viper Psammodynastes pictus

Psammophis[]

Condanarus sand snake Psammophis condanarus Pakistan, India, Nepal
Leith's sand snake Psammophis leithii Pakistan, India
Desert sand snake Psammophis schokari Pakistan, India
Long Sand Racer Psammophis longifrons

Ptyas[]

Doria's Green Snake Ptyas doriae
Indo-Chinese rat snake Ptyas korros India, China, Myanmar, Malay region
Indian rat snake Ptyas mucosa Turkestan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, China, Taiwan, Sumatra, Java
Black-margined rat snake Ptyas nigromarginata India, China, Myanmar

Pseudoxenodon[]

False cobra Pseudoxenodon macrops Bhutan, India, Nepal (Himalayan foothills)

Rhabdops[]

Brown Trapezoid Snake Rhabdops bicolor
Olive Trapezoid Snake Rhabdops olivaceus
Rhabdops aquaticus^[1]

Rhabdophis[]

Himalayan keelback Rhabdophis himalayanus India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar
Red-necked keelback Rhabdophis subminiatus Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, China, Indo-China, Malay region

Sibynophis[]

Günther's Many-tooth Snake Sibynophis bistrigatus
Common Many-tooth Snake Sibynophis collaris
Cantor's blackheaded snake Sibynophis sagittarius Nepal, India, Bangladesh
Spotted blackheaded snake Sibynophis subpunctatus India, Sri Lanka

Sinonatrix[]

Olive Keelback Sinonatrix percarinata

Spalerosophis[]

Red-spotted snake Spalerosophis arenarius India, Pakistan
Royal snake Spalerosophis diadema Turkestan, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India

Stoliczkia[]

Khasi Red Snake Stoliczkia khasiensis

Trachischium[]

Blackbelly Worm-eating Snake Trachischium fuscum
Rosebelly Worm-eating Snake Trachischium guentheri
Olive Oriental Slender Snake Trachischium laeve
Mountain Worm-eating Snake Trachischium monticola
Yellow-bellied Worm-eating Snake Trachischium tenuiceps

Wallaceophis[]

Wallaceophis gujaratensis^[2]

Xenochrophis[]

Sri Lankan checkered keelback Xenochrophis asperrimus Sri Lanka
Dark-bellied marsh snake Xenochrophis cerasogaster Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh
Andamanese keelback water snake India (Andamans)
Checkered Keelback Xenochrophis piscator Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, China, Indo-China
Yellow-Spotted Keelback Xenochrophis flavipunctatus
Xenochrophis punctulatus
St. John's Keelback Xenochrophis sanctijohannis
Triangle Keelback Xenochrophis trianguligerus

Xylophis[]

Perrotet's Mountain Snake Xylophis perroteti
Günther's Mountain Snake Xylophis stenorhynchus
Captain's Wood Snake Xylophis captaini^[3]

Notes[]

^ Giri, Varad B.; Deepak, V.; Captain, Ashok; Das, Abhijit; Das, Sandeep; Rajkumar, K. P.; Rathish, R. L.; Gower, David J. (2017-09-11). "A new species of Rhabdops Boulenger, 1893 (Serpentes: Natricinae) from the northern Western Ghats region of India". Zootaxa. 4319 (1): 27. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4319.1.2. ISSN 1175-5334.
^ Mirza ZA; Vyas R; Patel H; Maheta J; Sanap RV (2016). "A New Miocene-Divergent Lineage of Old World Racer Snake from India". PLOS ONE. 11 (3): e0148380. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0148380. PMC 4774991. PMID 26934509.
^ David J. Gower and Jasmin D. Winkler (2007) TAXONOMY OF THE INDIAN SNAKE XYLOPHIS BEDDOME (SERPENTES: CAENOPHIDIA), WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES Hamadryad 31(2):315 – 329 PDF Archived 2008-12-03 at the Wayback Machine

References[]

Whitaker, Romulus & Captain, Ashok. (2004) Snakes of India: The Field Guide. Draco Books, Chennai. ISBN 81-901873-0-9
Daniel, J.C. (2002) The Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. Bombay Natural History Society and Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-566099-4

External links[]

[1] Giri, Varad B.; Deepak, V.; Captain, Ashok; Das, Abhijit; Das, Sandeep; Rajkumar, K. P.; Rathish, R. L.; Gower, David J. (2017-09-11). "A new species of Rhabdops Boulenger, 1893 (Serpentes: Natricinae) from the northern Western Ghats region of India". Zootaxa. 4319 (1): 27. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4319.1.2. ISSN 1175-5334.

[2] Mirza ZA; Vyas R; Patel H; Maheta J; Sanap RV (2016). "A New Miocene-Divergent Lineage of Old World Racer Snake from India". PLOS ONE. 11 (3): e0148380. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0148380. PMC 4774991. PMID 26934509.

[3] David J. Gower and Jasmin D. Winkler (2007) TAXONOMY OF THE INDIAN SNAKE XYLOPHIS BEDDOME (SERPENTES: CAENOPHIDIA), WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES Hamadryad 31(2):315 – 329 PDF Archived 2008-12-03 at the Wayback Machine

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