Table Of ContentJournal ofthe Bombay Natural HistorySociety, 105 (3), Sep-Dec 2008 299-316
NOTE ON ACOLLECTION OE SNAKES FROM SOUTH INDIA,
WITH EMPHASIS ON THE SNAKE FAUNA OF THE MEGHAMALAI HILLS
(HIGH WAVY MOUNTAINS)
Angus F. Hutton' and Patrick David2
'GarainaFarms, 385 ScrubbyCreekRoad,Gympie,Queensland4750,Australia.Email: [email protected]
2DepartementSystematiqueetEvolution,USM602Taxonomie-collection-Reptiles&Amphibiens,CasePostale30,MuseumNational
d’HistoireNaturelle,57 rueCuvier,F-75231 ParisCedex05,France. Email: [email protected]
Thispaperdeals withtwocollectionsofsnakes obtained in southIndiaby the seniorauthorin theyears 1946-48 and
1949-52respectively.SpecimenswereobtainedfromtheMeghamalaiHills,alsoknownastheHighWavyMountains,
fromtheAnaimalai Hills, located in the State ofTamil Nadu, andinWayanaddistrict, Kerala, atthe northernedgeof
Nilgiri Hills.Atotalof39snakespeciesarerecordedfromMeghamalai Hills.Thisarea,nowmostlyplantedwithtea,
includes Cloudlands, Highwavys and Manalaar estates, the access to which is now largely restricted, still includes
large untouched remnants of evergreen forest. The description of a rare Hutton’s Pitviper Tropidolaemus huttoni
Smith (1949) iscompletedon thebasisofunpublished notesfrom the seniorauthor.
Keywords: Serpentes,Tropidolaemushuttoni India,HighWavyMountains,MeghamalaiHills,TamilNadu,Anaimalai
,
Hills,Nilgiri Hills, Collection
INTRODUCTION Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya [CSMVS]), Bombay
(now Mumbai), as instructedby Mr. HumayanAbdulali, the
Hutton (1949a) reported on a collection of snakes then Honorary Secretary of the Bombay Natural History
obtainedintheHighWavyMountains,south-westofMadurai, Society(BNHS),Mumbai.Thespecimenwassightedin 1973
in the State ofTamil Nadu, South India (see below for the by Hutton (andhis wife), while on aholiday, and he advised
exact position ofthis range). Subsequently, Hutton (1949b) the new Curatorthatthe spirit hadevaporated and it needed
describedthemammalsofthispoorlyknownarea.Thepaper urgent attention. He examined it again in 1986 while on a
on snakes was based on collections and observations made UN / FAO Consultancy for the Gol and UN, and was
in 1946-48. Thisearliercollectioncontainedtwo specimens disappointedthat it had not been attended to!
ofnew speciesofpitviperpreviously mentioned as a nomen Althoughthis specimen isinbad condition, itallowed
nudumbyHutton(1949a),whichwaslaterdescribedbySmith ustoexpandthe variation inthis species. On thebasisofthe
(1949a) as Trimeresurus huttoni. Since its description, no 1946-48 and 1949-52 collections, which contain a total of
other specimens have ever been collected. On the basis of 39 snake species, we tentatively compare the fauna of this
the sole holotype, David and Vogel (1998) concluded that isolatedrange withthe knownfaunaofthreeotherranges of
this species shares most characters with Tropidolaemus south India.
wagleri (Boie 1827) and referred it to the genus
Tropidolaemus Wagler, 1830. Nevertheless, Tropidolaemus
huttoniremainsthemostpoorlyknownHutton’spitviperand MATERIAL AND METHODS
one oftherarest ofall snake species.
In the present paper, largely on the basis of Angus The following list is based on preserved specimens
Hutton’s notes, wepresentageneral description ofthe High deposited in the Natural History Museum, London in 1952,
Wavy Mts., one ofthe least known places in south India, as namely the second collection ofthe seniorauthorexamined
faraszoologyisconcerned,butnowdefinitelynotasremote by the second author. Some other snakes were deposited in
and forgotten as suggested in David and Vogel (1998). We thecollectionofthe BNHS,MumbaiandCSMVS,Mumbai.
publishdataonspecimensofsnakesofthissecondcollection. The exactlocalities ofcollect are as follows:
We take this opportunity to present new data on Anaimalai Hills: Injapara and Monica Tea Estates,
Tropidolaemushuttoni. Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, 1949-51; High Wavy Mts.:
In contrast to the information published in David and Meghamalai Hills, (1946/48) see above; Mysore: Kadamane
Vogel (1998),theparatypeofthisspeciesretainedbyHutton Estate,nearSakleshpur,Hassandistrict,Karnataka, 1951;Nilgiri-
wasnotlostbuthadbeendonatedpersonallybyhimin 1962, Wayanad: RockwoodEstate,Wayanaddistrict, Kerala(1952).
while on his way to Australia, to Dr. V. Chari, Curator of Interesting specimens are described in detail below.
Reptiles at the Prince ofWales Museum (now Chhatrapati Biological notes are exclusively based on Angus Hutton’s
,
SNAKES OFTHE HIGH WAVY MOUNTAINS, SOUTH INDIA
' v
iSSI, {£:t. "J-4# :
Kerala •
d• / Madurai
** i
i ({ TamilNadu l
;\i
Fig. 1: Mapof South India showing thegeneral position ofthe Meghamalai Hills. Thick lineonthe South: general
limitofthe Meghamalai Hills; Thin lineonthe North: the Varushanad Hills
Fig. 2: Tropidolaemushuttoni(Smith, 1949), lateral view ofthe headofthe
paratype. Colorisedview based on a B&W photograph datingfrom 1947.
In lifethe red hue ofthe snoutwas slightly more brown (brick red). Note upturned
snoutandthe yellow mental shield and postocularstreak
Fig. 3:Acomposite panoramataken in October 1993ofpartofthe ManalaarTea Estatejust belowthejunction of Manalaarand
Chinna Manalaar rivers. Downstream oftheconfluencethe stream becomesthe Suruli river. Notethejunglecorridors leftin place.
Manalaarisatthe extreme rightofthe panorama; Mt. Pakkadi Mettu, c. 1,898 m, is atthe centre ofthe picture
300 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (3), Sep-Dec 2008
SNAKES OFTHE HIGH WAVY MOUNTAINS, SOUTH INDIA
field data. The spellingofIndian namesoflocalities follows providedeven more opportunities forcollecting.
Ravi (2001). As the ‘tapped’ (Mail) runner complained about the
Measurementsweremeasuredtothenearestmillimetre. weight of pickled snake specimens, sealed in tins of spirit,
Ventral scales were counted according to Dowling (1951). that he had to carry for 8 hours to the Kambam Post Office,
Theterminalscuteisexcludedfromthenumberofsubcaudals. AngusHuttonascertainedfromthe BNHS that,providedthe
The number ofdorsal scale rows at inid-body is counted at head and tail ends were preserved intact, it was quite
theleveloftheventralplatecorrespondingtohalfofthetotal acceptabletoskinouttheintermediatesectiontosaveweight.
ventral number. Values for symmetric head characters are Itisforthisreasonthatsuchalargenumberofspecimensare
giveninleft/rightorder.Thenumberofexaminedspecimens describedas skinned!
appearing undereach species details may differin tables, as InAugust 1948 HuttonwenttotheUKonfourmonths
specimens in badcondition were notexamined in details. furloughwith more snake and lizard specimens, which were
Abbreviations: SVL: Snout-vent length; TaL: Tail depositedwith Dr. MalcolmA. Smithin thecollectionofthe
length;TaL/TL:ratiotaillength/totallength;TL; total length. then BMNH, now the Natural History Museum, London, to
Scalation characters: ATem: anterior temporals; add to others preserved in spirit, which had been forwarded
C-SL3: numberofscale(s) between the 3rd supralabial scale by the BNHS foridentification.
and the subocular; CEP: numberofcephalic scales on a line Hutton’s 1948 collection also included the second
between the eyes; DSR: dorsal scale rows; IL: infralabial knownspecimenoftheSkinkDasiasubcaerulea(Boulenger
scales; Lor: lorealscales; MSR: numberofdorsalscalerows 1891) collected in the HighWavy Mts., 1,798 m above msl,
atmidbody; PreOc: preocularscales; PSR: numberofdorsal some 16 km from the type locality of this species located
m
scale rows before vent; SC: subcaudals; SL: supralabials; nearBodinaikkanur,c. 335 (Boulenger 1891).Thissecond
SL-orb: number of supralabial(s) entering orbit; specimen was described by Smith (1949b).
Tern: temporal scales; VEN: ventral scales. On returning to India in January 1949 Hutton was
Museumabbreviations: BMNH: TheNatural History transferredtotheAnaimalai Hills to the Company’sMonica
Museum, London, UK; BNHS: Bombay Natural History and Injapara tea estates as senior assistant, for 2 years,
Society, Mumbai, India. followed by 6 months relieving on Kadamane tea estate in
MysoreandfinallyappointedmanagerofRockwoodteaestate
RESULTS intheNilgiriWynaadwhereheremainedtillJuly 1952where
he completedhiscontract
Historicalbackground Each year in India, during his 2 weeks local leave he
The first herpetological paperby Hutton (1949a) was visited the HighWavy Mts.. now known as the Meghamalai
based on collections and observations made in 1946-48. At Hills, Teni district, Tamil Nadu hoping to obtain more
that time, the senior author ofthis paper, then aged 18 who specimensofT. huttoni,alaswithoutsuccess,thoughthepatch
wasbominMysoreState (now Karnatakastate) andhad the of Bamboo at the confluence of the Manalaar and Chinna
advantage ofbeing fluent inTamil and several dialects, had Manalaar rivers where the original capture was made was
commencedworkintheHighWavyMts.asAssistantManager totally intact as it was in oneofthejungle corridors that had
withTeaEstates(India)Ltd,asubsidiarycompanyofBrooke been leftformigrating elephants.
Bonds of England, one of the leading Tea producing The author collected a good number of reptile
companies ofthe time in India. specimensboth in the HighWavyMts. and alsoin twoother
His work involved surveying and clearing thejungle rangesofSouth India,theNilgiriWayanad(nowtheWayanad
for planting up a thousand acre Cinchona and Tea estate, district,Kerala)andtheAnaimalaiHills(Coimbatoredistrict,
leavingthenaturalvegetationontheriversystemsuntouched also in Tamil Nadu) and took these specimens with him to
and also preserving essentialjungle corridors for migrating UKanddepositedthem intheBMNH,London inJuly 1952.
Elephantsandotherwildlife. Windbreaks were left intacton Specimens were identified by the curator, J.C. Battersby
theridgesasprotectionfromtheSouthWestmonsoonwinds. (inlitteris datedNovember29, 1954).Thiscollectionisrich
,
This work provided a unique opportunity for collecting with 6 lizard species, all common species, and 136 snake
specimens of flora and fauna, as upwards of 500 contract specimens, of which 129 are still in the collections of the
workerswereemployedatanyonetime. Healsoassistedthe BMNH. Up to now, the contents of this second collection
managerand engineers with the survey and construction by had neverbeen published in detqil.
some300workersoftheaccessghatroadfromChinnamanur, The High Wavy Mts. received little attention prior to
in the Kambam valley, that took two years to build and this thepublicationsofAngusHutton. BlatterandHallberg(1917)
1 Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (3), Sep-Dec 2008 301
SNAKES OFTHE HIGH WAVY MOUNTAINS, SOUTH INDIA
reported on a botanical tour, whereas Wroughton (1917) is adjacent to the famous Periyar lake andTiger Reserve in
publisheddataonthemammals.Theseauthorsputemphasis Kerala.
on the poor knowledge ofthis hilly range, the top ofwhich The Meghamalai Hills are made of steep slopes and
was then still covered with denseevergreen forests. precipitous hills, which culminate by a cool and misty
It shouldbe pointedout that, at thattime andup tothe plateau approximately only 45 sq. km in area, with
establishment of Tea estates that first commenced at undulating hills at an average elevation of about 1,550 m
Cloudlands, just before World War II, to around 1946, the above sea level. The highest point of the range, Brook’s
High Wavy Mts. were still a remote area. It took the senior Peak, top at 1,965 m above sea level.
author an 8 hour walk or ride on a horse to reach the estates AccordingtoancientreportssuchasBlatterandHallberg
from the nearby cityofKambampriorto the construction of (1917) and Wroughton (1917), the High Wavy Mts. were
the vehicularghat road. heavilycovered withdense, darkevergreenforestswiththick
undergrowth. Only afew patches ofgroundremainedbare.
ADESCRIPTION OFTHEHlGHWAVY MOUNTAINS Nowadays, the Meghamalai Hills are subject to much
pressure. This plateau has become quite a tourist spot, for
Ashort description ofthe High Wavy Mountains was some parts open to the public, especially around the Suruli
provided by David and Vogel (1998), but it was both riverwaterfall. Otherpartshavebeenclearedsince 1946and
incompleteanderroneous: thisplateauisdefinitelynolonger extensive plantationsestablished.
the remote, unexplored and uninhabited area described by Most of the cultivated area is now covered with Tea
earlier naturalists who visited this mountain range! estatesofwhich the accessishighly restricted. Thisareahas
The High Wavy Mountains are now known as the about 12.15 sq. km of the world’s finest tea and two ultra
Meghamalai Hills (Fig. 1), from the Tamil words Megha, a modern Tea factories. For example, the locality where
cloud, and Malai, a hill. During A. Hutton’s service days, specimensofTropidolaemushuttoniwerecollectedisatabout
this name only applied to the eastern end where Cloudland onekilometreeastofBrook’sPeak.Thisareaisnowenclosed
Estate was the earliest planted area. The High Wavy Mts. in the ManalaarTea estate, which produces one ofthe most
areawasalwayscalled Patchakumachi,fromtheTamil word famous Teas in India, a clonal selected high yielding Tea.
Patcha green, andKumachi ajungle, whichmaybe loosely Accordingtothe website www.teabungalows.com (accessed
, ,
translated as “Green jungle”. The name "High Wavy on May02,2008), the largestTeaplantation, theHighwavys
Mountains” was applied by the earlier explorers who just Group, is owned by the Woodbriargroup. Other plantations
noted the appearance from the then Cumbum (Kambam) nearbyincludeCardamom,PepperandCoffee. However,the
valley-thatisjusthow theyappear. Inthosedays,the 198 m southernmost part of the Meghamalai Hills, close to the
dropoftheSuruliriverwaterfall wasascenicbeauty,though PeriyarReserve, is still covered with denseforests.
the Hydro Electric Scheme dam above the falls has now cut Currently,thevegetationrangesfromdryscrubforests
m
the flow ofwaterto asmall trickle. on the foothills up to about 915 above msl, then to the
This elevated plateau constitutes a spur from the plantations cited above on the plateau, which replaced the
CardamomHillsorientedsouthwest-northwestonthe south- evergreenforestsofthepast. Ridgesoverlookingthevalleys
western edge ofthe Varushanad Hills (orVarusanadu Hills). are covered with grass whereas the hill-bamboo Ochlandra
The Varushanad hills extend in a north-east direction; east travancorica edges the tracts of evergreen forest. Large
near Thekkadi from the junction of Cardamom Hills and patchesofevergreenforestsarestillpresentonlyonthehigher
Pandalam Hills towards the Andipatti Hills just west of summits. However, even within the extensive Tea estates,
Madurai. The Meghamalai Hills constitute the western edge extensive tracts ofundisturbed forests and ofbamboo have
of the Varushanad Hills along the deep Kambam Valley. been deliberately left and preserved as windbreaks and to
The city ofKambam (formerly Cumbum; 9° 43' 60" N; 11° protecttheriversandpreservenaturalwildlifecorridors.These
17'60"E)isabout 15kmnorth-westoftheMeghamalaiHills, naturalcorridorsallowtheannualmigrationofwildelephants,
whereasGudaluriscloser,atabout 10kmeastofthesouthern which are still abundant, across the range (Fig. 3) and are
partoftherange.TheMeghamalairangeislocatedinTeni(or usedbymonkeys,deers(Sambar)andbirds.Allnaturalridges,
Theni) district ofthe state ofTamil Nadu, in southern India. as well as watercourses were left.
Thesoutherntipofthisrangeislocatedveryclosetothelimit
between the limit of the State of Kerala. The south Descriptionofthe collection of 1952
westernmostedgeoftheMeghamalaiHillsborderstheIdukki
BMNH
districtofKerala. Lastly,thesouth-westernpartoftherange The senior author took this collection to the
302 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (3), Sep-Dec 2008
SNAKES OFTHE HIGH WAVY MOUNTAINS, SOUTH INDIA
(London)in 1952,butspecimenswereenteredincollectionin Main morphological characters are summarized in Table 2.
1955. Inallspecimens,theportionoftherostralvisiblefromabove
Uropeltidae Muller, 1831 is distinctly shorter than the distance rostral-frontal. The
venter is yellow, either only speckled with dark brown
Melanophidiumpunctatum Beddome, 1871 (BMNH 1955.1.2.81) or with dark brown spots, or largely
BMNH
Material Examined: 3 specimens; barred with black crossbars wider than the yellow areas
1955.1.2.93-94 (2 females), “Anamallies”, now Anaimalai (BMNH 1955.1.2.82 and BMNH 1955.1.2.86).
Hills. BMNH 1955.1.2.95 (female),“HighWavyMts.”,now We could not find any previous published record of
MeghamalaiHills. this species from the Nilgiri Hills, eitherin Smith (1943), in
Biology: Collected at 1,066 m above msl in the Rajendran (1985) orMurthy (1990).
Meghamalai Hills.
Note: Thesespecimensagreewellwiththedescriptions Uropeltis maculatus (Beddome, 1878)
providedin Smith (1943) and WhitakerandCaptain (2004). MaterialExamined: 1 specimen; BMNH 1955.1.2.73
Description: BMNH 1955.1.2.93: SVL 457 mm, TaL (female), “Nilgiri-Wynaad”, now Wayanad district, Kerala,
23mm;VEN 177,SC 16; 16-15-13DSR.Ochre-brownabove, at the border between the states of Kerala, Karnataka and
withscalesedgedwithbrownontheirlowerpart (Table 1). Tamil Nadu.
m
Biology: Collected at 1,066 above msl.
PlecturusperrotetiDumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854 Note: This specimen agrees well with the descriptions
BMNH
MaterialExamined: 1 specimen; 1955.1.2.92 providedinRajendran(1985)andWhitakerandCaptain(2004).
(female), “Nilgiri-Wynaad”, now Wayanad district, Kerala, Main morphological characters are summarized in Table 2.
at the border between the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Two largecoral spotsarepresentoneach side ofthe tail.
Tamil Nadu.
Biology: Collected at 1,066 m above msl. Uropeltis ocellatus (Beddome, 1863)
BMNH
Note: Thisspecimenagrees well withthedescriptions Materialexamined: 7 specimens; 1955.1.2.74,
BMNH BMNH BMNH
provided in Smith (1943), Rajendran (1985) and Whitaker 1955.1.2.76, 1955.1.2.78 (3 males),
BMNH
andCaptain (2004). 1955.1.2.75, 1955.1.2.77 (2 females), “Nilgiri-
Description: SVL 217 mm, TaL 8 mm; VEN 168, Wynaad”,nowWayanaddistrict,Kerala,attheborderbetween
SC8; 15-15-15 DSR.Ochre-brownabove,withscalesedged the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. BMNH
with brown on theirlowerpart. 1955.1.2.79 (female), BMNH 1955.1.2.80(sexunknown; bad
condition), "Anamallies”, nowAnaimalai Hills.
Uropeltisceylanicus Cuvier, 1829 Biology: Specimens from the Nilgiri Hills were
MaterialExamined: lOspecimens;BMNH 1955.1.2.82- collected at 1,066 m above msl. Those from the Anaimalai
BMNH BMNH BMNH
83, 1955.1.2.90(3males), 1955.1.2.81, Hills were obtained between 609 and 1,981 m.
BMNH
1955.1.2.84-85, 1955.1.2.91 (4 females), “Nilgiri- Note: Thesespecimensagreewellwiththedescriptions
Wynaad”,nowWayanaddistrict, Kerala,attheborderbetween provided in Rajendran (1985) and Whitaker and Captain
the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. BMNH (2004). Main morphological characters are summarized in
1955.1.2.86 (1 female). HighWavy Mts. BMNH 1955.1.2.87- Table2.Twolargecoral spotsare presentoneachsideofthe
88(2females), “Anamallies”,nowAnaimalai Hills. tail. Specimens from the Nilgiri are brown above, whereas
m
Biology: Collectedat 1,066 above msl intheNilgiri those from theAnaimalai Hills are light greyish-green.
Hills, between 914 and 1,066 m in the High Wavy Mts. and
between 609 and 1,981 m in theAnaimalai Hills. Uropeltispulneyensis (Beddome, 1863)
BMNH
Note: Thesespecimensagreewellwiththedescriptions MaterialExamined:7specimens; 1955.1.2.68-
BMNH BMNH
providedbySmith ( 1943)andWhitakerandCaptain(2004). 69, 1955.1.2.72 (3 males), 1955.1.2.70-71
Table 1: Main characters ofspecimensof Melanophidiumpunctatum
Number Sex SVL TaL TaL/TL VEN SC DSR
BMNH 1955.1.2.93 F 457 23 0.048 177 16 16-15-13
BMNH 1955.1.2.94 F - - - 176 15 16-15-13
BMNH 1955.1.2.95 F 440 27 0.058 186 14 16-15-13
J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (3), Sep-Dec 2008 303
SNAKES OFTHE HIGH WAVY MOUNTAINS, SOUTH INDIA
(2 females), “High Wavy Mts.”, now Meghamalai Hills. six coral red blotchesoneach side ofthe anteriorpartofthe
Biology: Collected between 914 and 1,066 m above body;oneelongated,curved,boomerang-likeblotchoneach
msl. sideofthetail;venteryellowwithscalesspeckledwithbrown
Note:Thesespecimensagreewellwiththedescriptions on theiranteriormargin.
provided in Smith (1943), Rajendran (1985), and Whitaker
and Captain (2004). Main morphological characters are Boidae Gray, 1825
summarized inTable 2. Two large coral spots are presenton
each side ofthe tail. Eryxjohnii (Russell, 1801)
MaterialExamined: specimen; BMNH 1955.1.2.66
1
Uropeltisrubromaculatus (Beddome, 1867) (male; SVL577 mm,TaL43 mm; skin only), “Anamallies”,
MaterialExamined: 1 specimen; BMNH 1955.1.2.89 nowAnaimalai Hills.
(1 male), “Nilgiri-Wynaad", now Wayanad district, Kerala, Biology: Collected between 609 and 1,981 m above
at the border between the states of Kerala, Karnataka and msl. Nothing else recorded.
Tamil Nadu. Note: This specimen agreeswell withthedescriptions
m
Biology: Collected around 1,066 above msl. provided in Smith (1943).
Note: This specimenagrees well with the descriptions
provided in Smith (1943) andWhitakerandCaptain (2004). Gongylophis cotticus (Schneider, 1801)
Main morphological characters are summarized in Table 2. MaterialExamined: 1 specimen;BMNH 1955.1.2.67
Pattern:abovedarkbrownwitheachscaletingedwithyellow; (female; SVL 604 mm. TaL 38 mm; skin only), “Nilgiri-
Table 2: Main morphological characters ofexamined specimensofthe genus UropeltisCuvier, 1829
Number Sex SVL TaL TaL/TL VEN SC MSR PSR
Uropeltisceylanicus
BMNH 1955.1.2.82 M 224 16 0.067 121 10 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.83 M 206 14 0.064 131 10 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.84 M 180 11 0.058 133 8 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.90 M 245 16 0.062 134 10 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.81 F 288 16 0.053 127 9 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.85 F 238 12 0.048 129 8 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.86 F 188 9 0.046 132 8 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.87 F 229 14 0.058 122 9 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.88 F 254 9 0.034 124 8 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.91 F 262 12 0.044 134 8 17 17
Uropeltismaculatus
BMNH 1955.1.2.73 F 282 8 0.028 159 6 17 17
Uropeltis ocellatus
BMNH 1955.1.2.74 M 231 11 0.045 207 9 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.76 M 222 8 0.035 207 10 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.78 M 151 5 0.032 212 8 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.73 F 282 8 0.028 209 6 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.75 F 281 9 0.031 206 8 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.77 F 224 6 0.026 210 6 17 17
Uropeltispulneyensis
BMNH 1955.1.2.68 M 204 10.5 0.049 173 11 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.69 M 188 10 0.051 173 12 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.72 M 199 10.5 0.050 176 12 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.70 F 258 8 0.030 180 7 17 17
BMNH 1955.1.2.71 F 227 8 0.034 179 7 17 17
Uropeltisrubromaculatus
BMNH 1955.1.2.89 F 279 17 0.057 128 9 17 17
304 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (3), Sep-Dec 2008
1
SNAKES OFTHE HIGH WAVY MOUNTAINS, SOUTH INDIA
Wynaad”, now Wayanad District, Kerala, at the border (2 skins), “Anamallies”, nowAnaimalai Hills.
m
between the states ofKerala, Karnataka andTamil Nadu. Biology: Collected at 914-1,066 above msl in the
Biology: Collectedat 1,066mabovemsl. Nothingelse Meghamalai Hills and between 609 and 1,981 m in the
recorded. Anamalai Hills.
Note: Thisspecimenagreeswell withthedescriptions Note: Thesespecimensagreewell withthedescription
provided in Smith (1943). provided in Smith (1943) andWhitakerand Captain (2004).
Main characters are summarized inTable 4.
COLUBRIDAE Oppel, 1811
Coelognathus Helena monticollaris (Schulz, 1992)
BMNH
Ahaetulladispar(Gunther, 1864) MaterialExamined: 7specimens; 1955. .3.25
1
MaterialExamined: 8specimens; BMNH 1955. .3.50 (male; SVL 540 mm, TaL 147 mm), “Anamallies”, now
1
(female;Table3),BMNH 1955.1.3.51-52(2males),“Nilgiri- AnaimalaiHills. BMNH 1955.1.3.26-27(2females;SVL51
Wynaad”, now Wayanad district, Kerala, at the border & 257 mm, TaL 104 & 66 mm), “Nilgiri-Wynaad”, now
between the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Wayanaddistrict, Kerala, at theborderbetween the states of
Nadu. BMNH 1955.1.3.53-55 (3 males), BMNH Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. BMNH 1955.1.3.28
1955.1.3.56-57 (2 females), “Anamallies”, now Anaimalai (male; SVL 770 mm, TaL 228 mm; skin only), BMNH
Hills. 1955.1.3.29(female;SVL1,188mm,TaL226mm;skinonly),
Biology: Collected at 914-1,066 m above msl in the Mysore. BMNH 1955.1.3.30-31 (2 males; SVL 376 &
Nilgiri Hills, and between 609 and 1,981 m in the Anaimalai 256mm,TaL89mm&tailbroken),“HighWavyMts.”, now
Hills. Meghamalai Hills.
m
Note: Thesespecimensagreewellwiththedescription Biology: Collected at 1,066 in the Nilgiri Mts.,
providedin Smith (1943) andWhitakerandCaptain (2004). between 609 and 1,981 m in the Anamalai Hills and at
914-1,066 m in the Meghamalai Hills.
Ahaetulla nasuta (Laeepede, 1789) Note: This species was previously placed in the genus
BMNH
Material Examined: 2specimens; 1955.1.3.58 Elaphe.ItwastransferredtothegenusCoelognathusFitzinger,
(male;SVL650,TaL398mm),Mysore. BMNH 1955.1.3.59 1843 by Helfenberger(2001) and Utigeretal. (2002).
(female;SVL682mm,TaL368mm),Nilgiri-Wynaad”,now Thesespecimensagreewellwiththedescriptionprovided
Wayanaddistrict, Kerala, at the borderbetween the statesof in Schulz (1996). All have 25 dorsal scale rows at mid-body.
Kerala, Karnataka andTamil Nadu. Crossbarswiththetypical whiteocelli arepresentonlyonthe
Biology: Collected at 1,066 m in both localities. anterior halfofthe body on a ratherdark background. These
Note: Thesespecimensagreewellwiththedescription specimens are typical of Coelognathus Helena monticollaris
provided in Smith (1943) andWhitakerandCaptain (2004). (Schulz. 1992), endemic to the Western Ghats, whereas the
nominate subspecies Coelognathus helena Helena (Daudin,
Boigaceylonensis (Gunther, 1858) 1803) inhabitsotherparts ofIndiaand Sri Lanka.
BMNH
MaterialExamined: 8specimens; 1955.1.3.42
BMNH
(female; see Table 4), 1.3.43-45 (3 males), “High Dendrelaphispictus (Gmelin, 1789)
Wavy Mts.”, now Meghamalai Hills. BMNH 1955.1.3.46, Material Examined: 2 specimens; BMNH 1955.1.3.32-
BMNH 1955.1.3.49 (2 females), BMNH 1955.1.3.47-48 33 (2 females; SVL 642 & 368 mm, TaL 425 & 246 mm),
Table3: Main morphological charactersofexamined specimensofAhaetulladispar
Number Sex SVL TaL TaL/TL VEN SC MSR PSR SL PreOc Tern
BMNH 1955.1.3.51 M 520 249 0.324 157 110 15 13 8/8 2/2 2+2/2+2
BMNH 1955.1.3.52 M 269 - - 151 - 15 13 8/8 2/2 2+2/2+2
BMNH 1955.1.3.53 M 468 248 0.346 149 115 15 13 8/8 2/2 2+2/2+2
BMNH 1955.1.3.54 M 430 216 0.334 148 109 15 13 8/8 1 / 1 2+2/2+2
BMNH 1955.1.3.55 M 431 227 0.345 153 116 15 13 8/8 0/0 2+2/2+2
BMNH 1955.1.2.50 F 540 242 0.309 146 98 15 13 8/8 2/2 2+2/2+2
BMNH 1955.1.2.56 F 415 165 0.284 146 99 15 13 8/8 2/2 2+2/2+2
BMNH 1955.1.3.57 F 307 131 0.299 145 86 15 13 8/8 2/1 - 2+2/2+2
J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (3), Sep-Dec 2008 305
SNAKES OFTHE HIGH WAVY MOUNTAINS, SOUTH INDIA
“Nilgiri-Wynaad”, now Wayanad district, Kerala, at the They do not belong to Lycodon flavicollis Mukherjee and
border between the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Bhupathy (2007) as definedby these latterauthors.
Nadu.
Biology: Collected at 1,066 m above msl. Oligodon taeniolatus (Jerdon, 1853)
Note: Thesespecimensagreewellwiththedescription Material Examined: 1 specimen; Unnumbered
providedinSmith(1943)andVanRooijenandVogel(2008). specimen (female; dessicated and damaged; Table 3), no
They are darkcoloured and rather uniform in pattern at the locality.
exception ofthe dark postocular stripes. Biology: No data.
Note: ThesespecimensagreewellwiththeFormIVof
Lycodon aulicus (Linnaeus, 1758) Smith (1943).
MaterialExamined:2 specimens; BMNH 1955.1.3.11
(female; SVL 238 mm, TaL 42 mm), Mysore. BMNH Oligodon travancoricus Beddome, 1877
1955.1.3.12 (male; skin only), “Anamallies”, nowAnaimalai MaterialExamined: 6specimens;BMNH 1955.1.3.35
BMNH
Hills. (male; Table 3), 1955.1.3.36-39 (4 females),
Biology: Collectedat 1,066mabovemsl. Nothingelse BMNH 1955.1.3.41 (sex only, head and neck only), “High
wasrecorded. Wavy Mts.”, now Meghamalai Hills. Another specimen,
BMNH
Note: Thesespecimensagreewell withthedescription 1955.1.3.40,wasexchangedin 1955,andisnolonger
providedinSmith(1943). Bothhave 17MSRandthetypical present in the BMNH'scollections.
dorsal pattern. Biology: Collected between 914 and 1,828 m.
Note: Thesespecimensagreewellwiththedescription
Lycodon travancoricus (Beddome, 1870) provided in Smith (1943). Their main characters are
Material Examined: 8 specimens; BMNH summarized inTable 5.
1955.1.3.13-14 (2 females; SVL342 & 486 mm, TaL 83 &
108 mm), BMNH 1955.1.3.15 (juvenile; SVL 151, TaL Oligodon venustus (Jerdon, 1853)
38 mm), “Anamallies”, now Anaimalai Hills. BMNH MaterialExamined: 1 specimen;BMNH 1955.1.3.34
1955.1.3.16 (male; SVL 405 mm, TaL 101 mm), BMNH (male; Table 5; badly damaged), “Anamallies”, now
1955.1.3.17 (female; body partly cut), “Nilgiri - Wynaad”, Anaimalai Hills.
nowWayanaddistrict,Kerala,attheborderbetweenthestates Biology: Collectedbetween609and1,981 mabovemsl.
BMNH
ofKerala, Karnataka andTamil Nadu. 1955.1.3.18 Note: MaincharactersaresummarisedinTable5.This
(female; SVL255,TaL66mm), BMNH 1955.1.3.19 (male; identification is only tentative as, ifspecimen agree well in
SVL 142 mm, TaL 36 mm), BMNH 1955.1.3.20 (unsexed scalation and pattern with the description provided in Smith
juvenile), “High Wavy Mts.”, now Meghamalai Hills. (1943),ithasonly 15 MSRduetoareductionatthelevelsof
Another specimen, BMNH 1955.1.3.21, was exchanged in VEN66&67atrightandleftrespectively.Itspatternismade
1955 and is no longerpresent in the BMNH’s collections. ofdark purple dorsal blotches and a venter chequered with
Biology: Allspecimenswerecollectedbetween914and white and black.
1,066 m. We could not find any previous published record of
Note: Thisspecimenagreeswell withthedescriptions this speciesfromtheAnaimalai Hills, eitherin Smith (1943)
provided in Smith (1943) andWhitakerandCaptain (2004). or Murthy (1990).
Table4: Main morphological charactersofexamined specimensof Boigaceylonensis
Number Sex SVL TaL TaLATL VEN SC MSR PSR ATem
BMNH 1955.1.3.43 M 809 236 0.226 223 118 21 17 3/3
BMNH 1955.1.3.44 M 828 248 0.230 218 122 21 17 3/3
BMNH 1955.1.3.45 M 751 218 0.225 233 119 21 17 3/3
BMNH 1955.1.3.47 F 806 233 0.224 244 104 21 17 3/3
BMNH 1955.1.3.48 F 796 236 0.229 242 106 21 17 3/3
BMNH 1955.1.3.42 F 598 158 0.209 215 76 19 17 3/3
BMNH 1955.1.3.46 F 502 133 0.209 232 102 21 17 3/3
BMNH 1955,1.3.49 F 812 - - 241 - 21 17 3/3
306 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (3), Sep-Dec 2008
1 1
SNAKES OFTHE HIGH WAVY MOUNTAINS, SOUTH INDIA
andTamilNadu. Unnumberedspecimen(female;SVL360mm,
TaL 138 mm), no locality.
m
Biology: Collected at 1,066 above msl in the
Nilgiri Mts., between 609 and 1,981 m in the Anaimalai
Hills.
Note: Thesespecimensagreewellwiththedescription
provided in Smith (1943).
Natriodae Bonaparte, 18401
Amphiesmabeddomei (Gunther, 1864)
Material Examined: 11 specimens; BMNH
1955.1.2.96-97(2females),"Nilgiri-Wynaad”,nowWayanad
district, Kerala, at the border between the states of Kerala,
BMNH
KarnatakaandTamilNadu. 1955.1.2.98-99(2males),
BMNH BMNH
Mysore. 1955.1.3.1 (male), 1955.1.3.2
(female),"HighWavyMts.”,nowMeghamalaiHills. BMNH
BMNH
1955.1.3.3-4 (3 males), 1955.1.3.5-6 (2 females),
“Anamallies”, now Anaimalai Hills. Another specimen,
BMNH
1955.1.3.7, was exchanged in 1955 andisnolonger
present in the BMNH’s collections. Unnumbered specimen
(female; SVL412 mm,TaL> 128 mm, partoftail missing),
no locality.
Biology: All specimens were collected between
609and 1,981 m.Theunnumberedspecimencontainsatoad
in its stomach.
Note: This specimenagreeswell with thedescriptions
Fig. 4: The seniorauthorin December 1946with the skinsof provided in Smith (1943) andWhitakerand Captain (2004).
twovery large specimensof Najanaja Main morphological characters are summarised in Table 6.
Othercharactersinclude:dividednasals;dorsalscaleskeeled
Ptyas mucosa (Linnaeus, 1758) above. Body more or less distinctly patterned, with all
BMNH
MaterialExamined:4specimens; 1955.1.3.22 intermediates; a white postocular streak, edged with black
(female; SVL 365 mm. TaL 126 mm), BMNH 1955.1.3.23 above in all specimens.
(male; SVL 330 mm, TaL 129 mm), “Anamallies”, now
Anaimalai Hills. BMNH 1955.1.3.24 (male; SVL 325 mm, Amphiesma stolatum (Linnaeus, 1758)
TaL 131 mm), “Nilgiri-Wynaad”, now Wayanad district, Material Examined: 1 specimen; Unnumbered
Kerala,attheborderbetweenthestatesofKerala, Karnataka specimen (female; SVL390mm, TaL 119 mm), no locality.
Table 5: Main morphological characters ofexamined specimensof OligodonBoie, 1827
Number Sex SVL TaL TaL/TL VEN SC DSR Anal SL Lor
Oligodon taeniolatus
BMNH unnumbered F 283 49 0.148 - - 15-15-15 2 7/7 1 /
Oligodon travancoricus
BMNH 1955.1.3.35 M 330 62 0.158 141 34 17-17-15 2 7/7 0/0
BMNH 1955.1.3.36 F 332 52 0.135 152 31 17-17-15 2 7/7 0/0
BMNH 1955.1.3.37 F 292 41 0.141 158 29 17-17-15 2 7/7 0/0
BMNH 1955.1.2.39 F 128 21 0.141 159 30 17-17-15 2 7/7 0/0
Oligodon venustus
BMNH 1955.1.3.34 M 295 55 0.157 141 32 17-15-15 - 2 7/7 1 /
J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (3), Sep-Dec 2008 307
SNAKES OFTHE HIGH WAVY MOUNTAINS, SOUTH INDIA
Biology: No data. Calliophis nigrescens (Gunther, 1862)
Note: This specimen is typical ofthe species. Material Examined. 6 specimens; BMNH
1955.1.3.63-65 (3 females; SVL405, 235 and 162 mm,TaL
Macropisthodonplumbicolor(Cantor, 1839) 45,23and 18mm),“Nilgiri-Wynaad”,nowWayanaddistrict,
BMNH
MaterialExamined:2specimens; 1955.1.3.8-9 Kerala,attheborderbetweenthestatesofKerala,Karnataka
(2 females; skins only), “Nilgiri-Wynaad”, now Wayanad andTamilNadu. BMNH 1955.1.3.66-68(3males;SVL412,
district, Kerala, at the border between the states of Kerala, 360 and 460 mm, TaL 51, 42 and 49 mm), “Anamallies”,
KarnatakaandTamil Nadu. nowAnaimalai Hills.
Biology: Collectedat 1,066mabovemsl. Nothingelse Biology: Collected at 1,066 m above msl. Specimen
BMNH
recorded. 1955.1.3.68 contains an adult Limnonectes
Note:Onlytheskinsofthesespecimenswerepreserved. limnocharis(Gravenhorst, 1829) in its stomach.
They agree well with the description provided in Smith Note: ThegenericpositionfollowsSlovinskietal. (2001).
(1943). AllspecimensagreewellwiththedescriptionprovidedinSmith
BMNH BMNH
(1943). Specimens 1955.1.3.63, 1955.1.3.64,
XenodermatidaeGray, 1849 BMNH 1955.1.3.66, and BMNH 1955.1.3.67 belong to the
Form 1 ofSmith(1943),whereasothersbelongtoForm2.
XylophisperrotetiReinhardt, 1836
BMNH
MaterialExamined: 1 specimen; 1955.1.3.10 Naja naja (Linnaeus, 1758)
(male; skull removed), “Nilgiri-Wynaad”, now Wayanad MaterialExamined: (Fig.4): 2specimens; Twoskins
district, Kerala, at the border between the states of Kerala, ofthe 1946'collection. High WavyGhat Road, “HighWavy
Karnataka andTamil Nadu. Mts.”, now Meghamalai Hills.
Biology: This specimen was collected at 1,066 m. Biology: These specimens were not previously
Note: This specimen agrees well with the description discussed. Both skinsare conserved in theprivatecollection
provided in Smith (1943). oftheseniorauthor.However,theyareworthbeingmentioned
here due to their size. One specimen was 179 cm long, the
EeapidaeBoie, 1827 otherone 229 cm long.
Bungaruscaeruleus Schneider, 1801 Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836)
Material Examined: 2 specimens; BMNH While no specimens were examined, this species was
1955.1.3.61-62 (2 males; SVL 762 and 880 mm, TaL > 95 encountered a few times in the High Wavy Mts. during the
and 120 mm), "Nilgiri-Wynaad”, now Wayanad district, construction ofthe Ghat Road in the lower altitude section
Kerala,attheborderbetweenthe statesofKerala, Karnataka between ChinnamanurandtheVarushanad Valley.
and Tamil Nadu. The senior author came across the species in all the
Biology: These specimens were collected at 1,066m. Tea plantation areas where he worked but never collected a
Note: Both specimens agree well with the description specimen ofsuch awell known anddangerous snake, which
provided in Smith (1943). usually preferredto get out ofthe way.
Table6: Main morphological charactersofspecimensofAmphiesmabeddomei
Number Sex SVL TaL TaL/TL VEN SC MSR PSR SL SL-orb Tern
BMNH 1955.1.2.98 M 380 _ _ 143 _ 19 17 8/8 4-5/4-5 1+1/1+1
BMNH 1955.1.2.99 M 370 134 0.266 139 69 19 17 9/9 4-6/4-6 1+2/1+2
BMNH 1955.1.3.1 M 420 148 0.261 140 68 19 17 8/8 3-5/3-5 1+2/1+2
BMNH 1955.1.3.3 M 402 129 0.243 145 61 19 17 8/8 3-5/3-5 1+2/1+2
BMNH 1955.1.3.4 M 413 140 0.253 146 62 19 17 8/9 3-5/4-6 1+2/1+2
BMNH 1955.1.2.96 F 321 102 0.241 146 66 19 17 9/9 4-6/4-6 1+2/1+2
BMNH 1955.1.2.97 F 336 106 0.240 144 62 19 17 8/8 3-5/3-5 1+1/1+1
BMNH 1955.1.3.2 F 382 - - 142 - 19 17 8/8 3-5/3-5 1+1/1+2
BMNH 1955.1.3.5 F 290 102 0.260 144 67 19 17 8/8 3-5/3-5 1+2/1+2
BMNH 1955.1.3.6 F 251 85 0.253 140 65 19 17 8/8 3-5/3-5 1+2/1+2
308 1 Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 105 (3), Sep-Dec 2008
