Reptiles of Kerala
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Domain: Eukaryota • Regnum: Animalia • Phylum: Chordata • Subphylum: Vertebrata • Infraphylum: Gnathostomata • Cladus: Osteichthyes • Superclassis: Tetrapoda • Cladus: Amniota • Cladus: Reptilia Laurenti, 1768
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Kerala_in_India_%28claimed_and_disputed_hatched%29.svg/200px-Kerala_in_India_%28claimed_and_disputed_hatched%29.svg.png)
This is a gallery list of reptiles species found in Kerala, India.
Order: Crocodilia (Crocodilians)
[edit]Family: Crocodylidae (Crocodiles)
[edit]Genus: Crocodylus
[edit]Crocodylus porosus (Saltwater crocodile)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Head
Crocodylus palustris (Mugger crocodile)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Head
Order: Testudines (Turtles)
[edit]Suborder: Cryptodira
[edit]Family: Geoemydidae (Pond, river and wood turtles)
[edit]Genus: Melanochelys
[edit]Melanochelys trijuga (Indian black turtle)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Lateral view
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Lateral view
Genus: Vijayachelys
[edit]Vijayachelys silvatica (Cochin forest cane turtle)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Front view
Family: Cheloniidae (Sea turtles)
[edit]Chelonia mydas (Green sea turtle)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Front view
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Hatchling
Genus: Eretmochelys
[edit]Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill sea turtle)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Ventral view
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Lateral view
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Head
Genus: Lepidochelys
[edit]Lepidochelys olivacea (Olive ridley sea turtle)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Nesting
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Hatchling
Family: Dermochelyidae (Leatherback turtles)
[edit]Genus: Dermochelys
[edit]Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback sea turtle)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Lateral view
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Crawling
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Hatchling
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Oesophagus showing spines to retain prey
Family: Testudinidae (Tortoises)
[edit]Genus: Geochelone
[edit]Geochelone elegans (Indian star tortoise)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Lateral view
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Lateral view
Genus: Indotestudo
[edit]Indotestudo travancorica (Travancore tortoise)
[edit]-
Lateral view
Family: Trionychidae (Softshell turtles)
[edit]Nilssonia leithii (Leith's softshell turtle)
[edit]-
Head
Lissemys punctata (Indian flapshell turtle)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Front view
Genus: Pelochelys
[edit]Pelochelys cantorii (Cantor's giant softshell turtle)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Front view
Chitra indica (Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Skeleton
Calotes calotes (Common green forest lizard)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Head
Calotes ellioti (Elliot's forest lizard)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Head
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Head
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Female
Calotes grandisquamis (Large-scaled forest lizard)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Lateral view
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Head
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Head
Calotes nemoricola (Nilgiri forest lizard)
[edit]-
Lateral view
Calotes rouxii (Roux's forest lizard)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Head
Calotes versicolor (Oriental garden lizard)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Head
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Male in breeding season
Draco dussumieri (Southern flying lizard)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Head
Genus: Otocryptis
[edit]Otocryptis beddomei (Indian kangaroo lizard)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
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Lateral view
Genus: Psammophilus
[edit]Psammophilus blanfordanus (Blanford's rock agama)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Head
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Breeding color
Psammophilus dorsalis (Peninsular rock agama)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Front view
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Female
Salea anamallayana (Anaimalai spiny lizard)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Lateral view
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Head
Salea horsfieldii (Horsfield's spiny lizard)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Head
Sitana ponticeriana (Fan-throated lizard)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Ventral view
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Breeding colors
Family: Chamaeleonidae (Chameleons)
[edit]Chamaeleo zeylanicus (Indian chameleon)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Head
Family: Gekkonidae (Geckoes)
[edit]Cnemaspis beddomei (Beddome's day gecko)
[edit]Cnemaspis gracilis (Slender day gecko)
[edit]Cnemaspis indica (Indian day gecko)
[edit]Cnemaspis kottiyoorensis (Kottiyoor day gecko)
[edit]Cnemaspis littoralis (Coastal day gecko)
[edit]-
Lateral view
Cnemaspis monticola (Mountain day gecko)
[edit]Cnemaspis nairi (Ponmudi day gecko)
[edit]Cnemaspis nilagirica (Nilgiri day gecko)
[edit]Cnemaspis ornata (Ornate day gecko)
[edit]Cnemaspis sisparensis (Sispara day gecko)
[edit]Cnemaspis wynadensis (Wyanad day gecko)
[edit]Geckoella collegalensis (Kollegal ground gecko)
[edit]-
Lateral view
Gehyra mutilata (Four-clawed gecko)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Head
Genus: Dravidogecko
[edit]Dravidogecko anamallensis (Anaimalai gecko)
[edit]Genus: Hemidactylus
[edit]Hemidactylus brookii (Brooke's house gecko)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Lateral view
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Head
Hemidactylus frenatus (Common house gecko)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
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Dorsal view
Hemidactylus leschenaultii (Leschenault's leaf-toed gecko)
[edit]Hemidactylus maculatus (Spotted leaf-toed gecko)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
Hemidactylus prashadi (Bombay leaf-toed gecko)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
Hemidactylus reticulatus (Reticulate leaf-toed gecko)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
Hemidactylus triedrus (Termite hill gecko)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Dorsal view
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Dorsal view
Family: Lacertidae (Lacertas)
[edit]Ophisops beddomei (Beddome's snake-eye/lacerta)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
Ophisops leschenaultii (Leschenault's snake-eye/lacerta)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Head
Chalcides pentadactylus (Five-fingered skink)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Illustration
Dasia subcaeruleum (Boulenger's tree skink)
[edit]Eutropis beddomii (Beddome's skink)
[edit]Eutropis bibronii (Bibron’s seashore skink)
[edit]Eutropis carinata (Golden skink)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
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Lateral view
Eutropis clivicola (Mountain/Inger's skink)
[edit]Eutropis macularia (Bronze grass skink)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Head
Genus: Kaestlea/Scincella
[edit]Kaestlea beddomii (Beddome’s ground skink)
[edit]Kaestlea bilineata (Two-lined ground skink)
[edit]Kaestlea laterimaculata (Side-spotted ground skink)
[edit]Kaestlea palnica (Palni ground skink)
[edit]Kaestlea travancorica (Travancore ground skink)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
Lygosoma albopunctata (White-spotted supple skink)
[edit]Lygosoma punctata (White-spotted supple skink)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
Ristella beddomii (Beddome's cat skink)
[edit]Ristella guentheri (Günther's cat skink)
[edit]Ristella rurkii (Rurk’s cat skink)
[edit]-
Claw pattern
Ristella travancorica (Travancore cat skink)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Head
Genus: Sphenomorphus
[edit]Sphenomorphus dussumieri (Dussumier's forest skink)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Lateral view
Varanus bengalensis (Bengal/Indian monitor)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Front view
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Head
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Head (juvenile)
Family: Acrochordidae (File snakes)
[edit]Genus: Acrochordus
[edit]Acrochordus granulatus (Marine file snake)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Lateral view
Family: Colubridae (Colubrid snakes)
[edit]Ahaetulla dispar (Gunther's vine snake)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Head
Ahaetulla nasuta (Green vine snake)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Head
Ahaetulla perroteti (Western Ghats bronzeback)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Head
Ahaetulla pulverulenta (Brown vine snake)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Head
Genus: Argyrogena
[edit]Argyrogena fasciolata (Banded racer)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Head
Boiga beddomei (Beddome's cat snake)
[edit]-
Head
Boiga ceylonensis (Sri Lanka cat snake)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Head
Boiga dightoni (Pirmad cat snake)
[edit]Boiga forsteni (Forsten's cat snake)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Lateral view
Boiga nuchalis (Collared cat snake)
[edit]-
Lateral view
Boiga trigonata (Common cat snake)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Lateral view
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Front view
Genus: Chrysopelea
[edit]Chrysopelea ornata (Golden tree snake)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Head
Genus: Coelognathus
[edit]Coelognathus helena (Trinket snake)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Head
Genus: Dendrelaphis
[edit]Dendrelaphis ashoki (Ashok's bronzeback)
[edit]Dendrelaphis chairecaeos/chairecacos (Southern bronzeback)
[edit]-
Head
Dendrelaphis girii (Giri's bronzeback)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Head
Dendrelaphis grandoculis (Large-eyed bronzeback)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Head
Dendrelaphis tristis (Common bronzeback)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Head
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Front view
Genus: Dryocalamus
[edit]Dryocalamus nympha (Bridal snake)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
Liopeltis calamaria (Calamaria reed snake)
[edit]Lycodon aulicus (Indian wolf snake)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Dorsal view
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Dorsal view
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Melanistic form
Lycodon striatus (Barred wolf snake)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Head
Lycodon travancoricus (Travancore wolf snake)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Dorsal view
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Ventral view
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Head
Oligodon affinis (Western kukri)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
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Head
Oligodon arnensis (Banded kukri)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
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Head
Oligodon brevicauda (Shorthead kukri)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Lateral view
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Head
Oligodon taeniolatus (Streaked kukri)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
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Dorsal view
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Dorsal view
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Head
Oligodon travancoricus (Travancore kukri)
[edit]Oligodon venustus (Jerdon's kukri)
[edit]Ptyas mucosa (Indian rat snake)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Lateral view
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Courtship
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Head
Rhabdops olivaceus (Olive forest snake)
[edit]Genus: Sibynophis
[edit]Sibynophis subpunctatus (Duméril's black-headed snake)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
Family: Erycidae/Erycinae (Sand boas)
[edit]Eryx conicus (Russell's boa)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Head
Eryx johnii (Indian sand boa)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Head
Eryx whitakeri (Whitaker's sand boa)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Head
Bungarus caeruleus (Common krait)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
Genus: Calliophis
[edit]Calliophis beddomei (Beddome's coral snake)
[edit]Calliophis bibroni (Bibron's coral snake)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Head
Calliophis melanurus (Indian coral snake)
[edit]Calliophis nigrescens (Black coral snake)
[edit]-
Ventral view
Hydrophis curtus (Short sea snake)
[edit]Hydrophis cyanocinctus (Annulated sea snake)
[edit]-
Illustration
Hydrophis ornatus (Cochin-banded sea snake)
[edit]Hydrophis platurus (Yellow-bellied sea snake)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
Hydrophis schistosus (Hook-nosed sea snake)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Head
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Head
Genus: Ophiophagus
[edit]Ophiophagus hannah (King cobra)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Head
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Head
Family: Gerrhopilidae (Worm snakes)
[edit]Genus: Gerrhopilus/Typhlops
[edit]Gerrhopilus beddomii (Beddome's worm snake)
[edit]Gerrhopilus thurstoni (Thurston's worm snake)
[edit]Gerrhopilus tindalli (Tindall's worm snake)
[edit]Family: Homalopsidae (Mud snakes)
[edit]Cerberus rynchops (Dog-faced water snake)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
Genus: Dieurostus
[edit]Dieurostus dussumierii (Dussumier's water snake)
[edit]-
Lateral view
Gerarda prevostiana (Gerard's water snake)
[edit]Family: Natricidae/Natricinae (Keelbacks)
[edit]Atretium schistosum (Split keelback)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Head
Amphiesma stolatum (Buff striped keelback)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Dorsal view
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Head
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Head
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Eggs
Hebius beddomei (Beddome’s keelback)
[edit]-
Head
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Head
Hebius monticola (Hill keelback)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Head
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Head
Genus: Macropisthodon
[edit]Macropisthodon plumbicolor (Green keelback)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Lateral view (adult)
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Dorsal view (juvenile)
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Lateral view (juvenile)
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Head
Genus: Xenochrophis
[edit]Xenochrophis piscator (Checkered keelback)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Head
Family: Pythonidae (Pythons)
[edit]Python molurus (Indian python)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Head
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Eggs
Family: Typhlopidae (Blind snakes)
[edit]Genus: Gryptotyphlops
[edit]Gryptotyphlops acutus (Beak-nosed blind snake)
[edit]Genus: Indotyphlops
[edit]Indotyphlops braminus (Brahminy blind snake)
[edit]Family: Uropeltidae (Shieldtails)
[edit]Genus: Brachyophidium
[edit]Brachyophidium rhodogaster (Wall's shield tail)
[edit]Genus: Melanophidium
[edit]Melanophidium bilineatum (Two-lined black shieldtail)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
Melanophidium punctatum (Beddome's black shieldtail)
[edit]-
Illustration
Melanophidium wynaudense (Indian black earth snake)
[edit]Genus: Platyplectrurus
[edit]Platyplectrurus madurensis (Travancore Hills thorntail)
[edit]Platyplectrurus trilineatus (Lined thorntail)
[edit]Genus: Plectrurus
[edit]Plectrurus aureus (Kerala burrowing snake)
[edit]Plectrurus guentheri (Günther's burrowing snake)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
Plectrurus perrotetii (Nilgiri burrowing snake)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
Rhinophis fergusonianus (Cardamom Hills earth snake)
[edit]-
Illustration
Rhinophis sanguineus (Red-bellied shieldtail)
[edit]-
Illustration
Rhinophis travancoricus (Travancore shieldtail)
[edit]Genus: Teretrurus
[edit]Teretrurus sanguineus (Purple-red earth snake)
[edit]Uropeltis arcticeps (Thirunelveli earth snake)
[edit]Uropeltis beddomii (Beddome's earth snake)
[edit]Uropeltis ceylanica (Kerala shieldtail)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Illustration
Uropeltis ellioti (Elliot's earth snake)
[edit]Uropeltis liura (Günther's earth snake)
[edit]-
Illustration
Uropeltis macrorhyncha (Anaimalai earth snake)
[edit]Uropeltis maculata (Spotted earth snake)
[edit]Uropeltis myhendrae (Boulenger's earth snake)
[edit]Uropeltis nitida (Southern earth snake)
[edit]Uropeltis ocellata (Nilgiri shieldtail)
[edit]Uropeltis petersi (Peter's shieldtail)
[edit]Uropeltis pulneyensis (Palni shieldtail)
[edit]-
Illustration
Uropeltis rubrolineata (Red-lined shieldtail)
[edit]Uropeltis rubromaculata/rubromaculatus (Red-spotted shieldtail)
[edit]-
Lateral view
Uropeltis smithi (Violet shieldtail)
[edit]Uropeltis woodmasoni (Wood-Mason's earth snake)
[edit]Daboia russelii (Russell's viper)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Head
Echis carinatus (Saw-scaled viper)
[edit]-
Illustration
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Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Lateral view
Hypnale hypnale (Hump-nosed viper)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Dorsal view
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Dorsal view
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Head
Genus: Trimeresurus
[edit]Trimeresurus gramineus (Bamboo pit viper)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Front view
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Head
Trimeresurus macrolepis (Large-scaled pit viper)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Front view
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Head
Trimeresurus malabaricus (Malabar pit viper)
[edit]-
Dorsal view
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Lateral view
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Lateral view
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Front view
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Head
Trimeresurus strigatus (Horseshoe pit viper)
[edit]Family: Xenodermatidae (Narrow-headed snakes)
[edit]Xylophis captaini (Captain's wood snake)
[edit]Xylophis perroteti (Perrotet's mountain snake)
[edit]-
Lateral view
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Head
Xylophis stenorhynchus (Günther's mountain snake)
[edit]References
[edit]- A checklist of reptiles of Kerala, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7(13): 8010–8022 by Palot, M.J. (2015)
- Indian snake checklist archive copy at the Wayback Machine
- Daniel, J.C.(2002) The Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. Bombay Natural History Society and Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-566099-4