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KEY AND CHECKLIST TO THE SNAKES OF PAKISTAN WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE

TO THE VENOMOUS SNAKES

Article · January 2003

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Pakistan J. Zool. Suppl. Ser., No.1, pp.1-53, 2003

KEY AND CHECKLIST TO THE SNAKES OF PAKISTAN

WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE VENOMOUS SNAKES

MUHAMMAD SHARIF KHAN

HERPETOLOGICAL LABORATORY,
15/6 DARUL SADAR NORTH,
RABWAH 35460, PAKISTAN.

ADDRESS FOR COMMUNICATION:

Muhammad Sharif Khan
306 Morton Avenue
Morton, PA 19070, USA
[email protected]

ABSTRACT:
Checklist and key for identification of Pakistani snakes is presented, with notes on
type locality and distribution in and outside Pakistan of each species. Snakebite problem
in Pakistan is discussed and a key for identification of Pakistani venomous snakes is
provided. Notes on zoogeography of venomous snakes are presented.

INTRODUCTION
Snakes are the most feared of the reptiles since the evolution of human conscious,
and have evolked several cults and beliefs where snakes are revered. Temples are erected
for snake worship, and snakes are interwoven in folklores and myths (Khan, 1993). More
or less it was the state of knowledge befor Europeans invasion of the subcontinent. Local
knowledge was based on fragmentary episodes and stories told by cattle herders and
travellers who freely mixed facts with fiction to attract and impress people around or it
was based on Arabian and Hindi literature, which was equally unscientific. Fearsome
stories were told about firespitting dragons, snakes who change their form into humans
and other after attaining age of hundred years, and snake the mere sight of which
liquefies humans and animals, etc (Khan, 1993).
When invading armies moved into jungles and uninhabited parts of the
subcontinent, they soon realized the venomicity and paucity of factual knowledge about
local snakes. Scientific studies on local snakes were started in ernest. Army personals,
 2

civil servants and clergymen at all levels, were encouraged to collect snakes and other
animals in their area. Local people were paid for each specimen they deposited with local
administration (Daniel, 1983). Soon collections from all over the country began to pour
into the museums, where experts worked on the taxonomy of the snakes. While notes on
ecology, habits and habitat of the local snakes were collected in the field. Scientific
societies with their journals were established to make the aquired scientific knowledge
available far and wide throughout the world. A glance at Boulenger’s (1890) volume in
“Fauna of British India “series is enough to show the wealth of knowledge which had
accumulated by that time. The volume was later enlarged and revised by Smith in 1941.
After partition of the subcontinent, several reports have been published on the
herpetology of Pakistan with special reference to local snakes (Minton, 1962, 1966;
Mertens, 1969, 1970; Khan, 1982, 84, 85, in press a,b), adding much to the knowledge of
Smith's (1941). My Urdu book on snakes of Pakistan (Sar zameen-a-Pakistan kay saamp)
was published in 1993. It was written with a view to present latest factual knowledge
about snakes to Urdu speaking general public. Present checklist is written to encompass
status of our present day knowledge and to update Smith's statements about species of
snakes known to occur within the political bounds of Pakistan.
Though mortality rate due to snakebite is quite low in Pakistan when compared to
the surrounding countries (Khan, 1990), however, snakebite as a health hazard and the
agony it causes to the victim and its family, make it a grave socio-economic problem. In
this checklist a separate section is devoted to the identification of the venomous species
and pattern of their distribution in Pakistan. Special identification keys have been devised
for their quick identification to help medics to administer correct antivenin.
Present checklist is addressed to large audiences: biology students making fauna
surveys, working on biological diversity or building collection for a museum; to medical
students it facilitate identification of nonvenomous snakes from venomous one.
Moreover, this checklist will go long way with people concerned with agriculture,
forestry and mining departments who are apt to come across snakes in field.
In the reference section a list of pertinent literature is provided so as to

facilitate further work on these facinating group of animals.

SNAKES
Pakistani snakes belong to 8 families: Leptotyphlopidae, Typhlopidae, Boidae,
Colubridae, Elapidae, Hydrophiidae and Crotalidae. The number of species of snakes
recorded from Pakistan, has steadily increased since Minton’s (1966) report. Minton
recorded 58 species, Mertens (1969) 66, Khan (1980) 72 and Khan (in press) 79 species
and subspecies which belong to 34 diverse genera.
Readers are advised to consult Khan (1993) for explanation of various
morphological terms used in the following keys. Families, genera and species, in this checklist,
are alphabetically arranged which has no phylogenetic significance.

Family Leptotyphlopidae
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Single genus with two species represented in Pakistan.

Key to snakes of Family Leptotyphlopidae in Pakistan.

1. Rostral large, hooked; total length
of body 80-110 times its diameter …..Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus
Rostral normal, round; total length
55-70 times its diameter.................Leptotyphlops blanfordii

Genus Leptotyphlops Fitzinger, 1843

Two species reported from Pakistan.

Leptotyphlops blanfordii (Boulenger)
(Sindhi thread snake: Sindhi dahaga saamp)
1890 Glauconia blanfordii Boulenger, Fauna Brit. Ind., Rept. Batr.: 243.
Type locality: Sindh, Pakistan.
Distribution in Pakistan: The snake has been frequently recorded from throughout the
riparian system of Pakistan, at low elevations. Hahn and Wallach (1998), while
commenting on the old world leptotyphlopids, do not include Pakistan in the range of
Leptotyphlops blanfordii, though the type locality of this species is Sindh, Pakistan
(Gasperetti (1988).
Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus (Jan)
(Beaked thread snake:Chonch-dar dahaga saamp)
1862 Stenostoma macrorhynchus Jan, Arch. Zool. Anat. Fis. Genova 1:190.
Type locality: Sennar, Egyptian Sudan.
Distribution in Pakistan: Recorded from Quetta to the Indus valley. Hahn and Wallach
(1998), while commenting on Old World leptotyphlopids, do not include Pakistan in the
range of Leptotyphlops macrorhynchus.
Distribution outside Pakistan: The beaked thread snake is reported from Sudan,

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Iran

Family Typhlopidae

Two genera with six species and subspecies are represented in Pakistan.

Key to snakes of Family Typhlopidae in Pakistan

1. Midbody scales 25 or more...………........Typhlops diardi
Midbody scale less than 25.......…………..........2
2. Twenty scales round midbody .......................Ramphotyphlops braminus
Eighteen scales round the midbody……….........3
3. Midbody diameter does not exceeds 2 mm…… ....Typhlops ductuliformes
Midbody diameter exceeds 2 mm.............………….4
4. Nasal scale completely divided....…………...Typhlops madgemintonai
Nasal scale incompletely divided........……………...5
5. Preocular in contact with
third supralabial only..........……………….... Typhlops ahsanai
 4

Preocular in contact with 3rd

and 4th suplalabials……………..... Typhlop madgemintonai shermanai

Genus Ramphotyphlops Fitzinger, 1843

A single species represented in Pakistan

Ramphotyphlops braminus (Daudin)
(Brahminy blind snake: Brahamni kainchwa saamp)
1803 Eryx braminus Daudin, Hist. Nat. Rept. 7:279.
Type locality: Vizagapatam, peninsular India.
Distribution in Pakistan: In Pakistan it is quite abundant in the upper and lower Indus
Valleys and except for the high mountains and deserts, it is reported from almost all over
Pakistan.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Almost cosmopolitan in distribution, which is attributed

to the human activity and is carried to remote areas in potted plants etc.

Genus Typhlops Oppel, 1811

Five species are known from Pakistan.

Typhlops ahsanai Khan
(Ahsan’s blind snake:Ahsan’s kainchwa saamp)
1999 Typhlops ahsanai Khan, Russian J. Herpetol 6(3): 238.
Type Locality: Nadari village, 2 km east of Goi Madan, District Kotli, Azad Kashmir,
33o 30'N and 74o 00'E, elevation 1315 m.
Distribution in Pakistan: Known only from its type locality, Nadari village, 2 km east of
Goi Madan, District Kotli, Azad Kashmir.
Typhlops diardi Schlegel
(Thick body blind snake: Moota kainchwa saamp)
1839 Typhlops diardi Schlegel, Abbild. Amphib. p. 39.
Type locality: India, Orientales.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Known from Nepal, Bengal, Assam, Myanmar,
Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Laos.
Typhlops diardi platyventris Khan
(Kashmir blind snake: Kashmiri moota kainchwa saamp)
1998 Typhlops diardii platyventris Khan, Pakistan J. Zool. 30(3):213-221.
Type loality: Goi Madan, Kotli, Azad Kashmir.
Distribution: T. diardi platyventris is known from its type locality.
Typhlops ductuliformes Khan
(Slender blind snake: Patla kainchwa saamp)
1999 Typhlops ductuliformes Khan, Pakistan J. Zool. 31(4):385-390.
Type locality: Jhangir’s tomb, Lahore.
Distribution in Pakistan: Recorded from Lahore, Hyderabad, and Karachi, Pakistan.
Typhlops madgemintonai madgemintonai Khan
(Kashmir’s slender blind snake:Kashmir patla kainchwa saamp)
 5

1999 Typhlops madgemintonai Khan, Russian J. Herpetol. 6(3): 233-236.

Type locality: Goi Madan, District Kotli, Azad Kashmir.
Distribution in Pakistan: Known from Goi Madan and Barmoach, District Kotli, Azad
Kashmir.
Typhlops madgemintonai shermanai Khan
(Sherman’s slender blind snake: Sherman’s patla kainchwa saamp)
1999 Typhlops madgemintonai shermanai Khan, Russian J. Herpetol. 6(3): 236-238.
Type locality: Charnali village, 2 km west, Goi Madan, District Kotli, Azad Kashmir.
Distribution in Pakistan: Kashmir and Rabwah, Punjab, Pakistan. Probably washed
down by flood water in the Chenab River from Kashmir.
BOAS AND PYTHONS

Family Boidae

Two genera occur in Pakistan.

Key to snakes of Family Boidae in Pakistan

1. Premaxilla toothed; head with
large symmetrically arranged scales;
subcaudals in double row …………...........Python molurus
Premaxilla not toothed; head
with small scales; subcaudals in a single row ...............2
2. A mental groove present...............……………........3
A mental groove absent.......……………....Eryx conicus
3. Anterior half of body with
smooth scales; anal and caudal
scales keeled; 49 scales at midbody...................Eryx tataricus
All body scales keeled; 51-61 midbody scale rows ….........Eryx johnii

Genus Eryx Daudin, 1803

Three species are known from Pakistan

Eryx conicus (Schneider) .
(Chain sand-boa: Sindhi du-muhi)
1801 Boa conica Schneider, Hist. Amphib. 2: 268.
Type locality: Madras.
Distribution in Pakistan: In Pakistan it has been reported from southern Sindh and the
Cholistan Desert.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Extends from Bihar and Orissa through India and Sri
Lanka.
Eryx johnii johnii (Russell)

(Common sand boa: Du-muhi)

1801 Boa johnii Russell, Ind. Serp. 2: 18, 20.
Type locality: Tranquebar, India.
 6

Distribution in Pakistan: Recorded from the plains of Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan,
not extending above 200 m.
Distribution outside Pakistan: It occurs throughout central India.. It is reported from
eastern Afghanistan and Iran.
Eryx tataricus speciosus Zarewsky
(Tatary sand boa:Tatar du-muhi)
1915 Eryx speciosus Zarewsky, Ann. Mus. Zool. Acad. Sci. St. Petersburg, 20: 361.
Type locality: Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
Distribution in Pakistan: In Pakistan it is reported from northwestern Balochistan.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Extends from the Aral Sea to the Altai Mountains and
Iran.

Genus Python Daudin, 1803

Single species in Pakistan.

Python molurus (Linnaeus)

(Rock python: Sindhi azh-daha)
1758 Coluber molurus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 1(10): 225.
Type locality: India.
Distribution in Pakistan: Most of the records are from the Indus Delta. Occasionally,
flood washed down specimens are reported in dams and under bridges on the rivers,
indicate a population existing in the upper valley of the Indus and its tributaries (Khan
1993a).
Distribution outside Pakistan: About a century ago the rock python was common in
India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan, from the plains to an elevation of 2000 m. Its
merciless persecution at the hand of man has reduced its population and now the
snake is lingering only in some remote areas.

COLUBRIDS
Family Colubridae
Family Colubridae is represented by 16 genera and about 40 species and
subspecies in Pakistan.
Key to snakes of family Colubridae in Pakistan
1. Ventrals extend across abdomen; rostral deeply grooved ...........................2
Ventrals does not extend across abdomen; rostral
not grooved, projected downward ....…………………….....Enhydris pakistanica
2. A subocular scale present; prefrontal fragmented …………..................3
Subocular scale absent; prefrontal not fragmented…………….................5
3. Rostral long, wedged between but not
completely separating internasals; midbody scales 25.....Spalerosophis arenarius
Rostral of normal size;
midbody scale rows more than 25............……………………………...4
4. Belly white with gray smudges;
subcaudals less than 100..........…………………....... Spalerosophis schirazianus
 7

Belly with reddish tint; subcaudals more than 100.........Spalerosophis diadema

5. Dorsals smooth throughout.......…………….............6
At least some dorsals keeled......……………...........29
6. Lower jaw countersunk ………………......Argyrogena fasciolatus
Lower jaw normal...............…………………...............7
7. Pupil of eye dark, hardly visible in life........................8
Pupil of eye large, clearly visible in life...…………......10
8. Loreal not or slightly in contact with
internasals; subcaudals in a single row .............Lycodon travancoricus
Loreal extensively in contact with
internasals; subcaudals in pairs …………………........9
9. Posterior nasal distinctly smaller
than anterior; 8 supralabials......…………......Lycodon striatus
Nasals equal in size; 9 supralabials…………........Lycodon aulicus
10. Rostral large, projecting,
concave below; naris narrow slits..……………..........11
Rostral and naris not as above...........……………......13
11. Rostral truncate anteriorly………………....Lytorhynchus ridgewayi
Rostral pointed...................………………………...........12
12. Fifth labial touching eye.…………........... Lytorhynchus paradoxus
No labial touching eye ……………………..... Lytorhynchus maynardi
13. Pupil elliptical; head much wider than neck ......................14
Pupil round, head slightly wider than neck...........................16
14. Head black, labials and chin scales dark;
ventrals white, without dark specklings ..................Boiga melanocephala
Head and rest of the characters not as above………...15
15. Supralabials 8; nostrils large in a pair of nasal scales…....Boiga trigonata
Supralabials 9-10; nostril in a partially
divided nasal scale............……………....……….....Telescopus rhinopoma
16. A pair of oblique or cross dark bars
on head and nape; fewer than 60 subcaudals............................17
Pattern on head and nape not as above; more
than 60 subcaudals...............…………...............19
17. Fifteen scales rows at midbody;
a thick dark cross bar at nape …………...........Oligodon taeniolatus
Seventeen scale rows at midbody.....………...........18
18. A thick inverted V-shaped dark stripe
one on head other on nape ……………......Oligodon arnensis
Head and nape dark brown or black,
a large yellow mark on each side of head................Sibynophis sagittarius
19. Ventrals fewer than 190......................………….20
Ventrals 190 or more .............……………............23
20. Anal scale not divided …………………....Psammophis leithii
Anal scale divided........……………….....................21
21. Nasal scale completely divided......………............22
Nasal scale incompletely divided...……..... Psammophis condanarus
 8

22. A pair of supralabials (4th + 5th or

5th + 6th) in contact with eye............................ Psammophis schokari
Three supralabials (4th + 5th + 6th) in contact
with eye…………………………………….. Psammophis lineolatus
23. Head scales with regular dark border;
adult exceeds 1250 mm in total length .....................Ptyas mucosus
Adult does not exceed 1100 mm in
total body length.................................…………….24
24. Two anterior temporals; eyes large.………............25
Single anterior temporal; eyes small ...................Pseudocyclophis persica
25. Scales at midbody in l9 rows........................26
Scale at midbody in 21 rows.......…………..Coluber ravergieri
26. Dorsals keelless..............................………....27
Dorsals keeled.......................………..............29
27. Single labial (5th) touching eye;
body dorsum with vivid pattern of
sooty black cross-bands, scales
of bands uniformly black …………..........Coluber karelini
A pair of supralabials touching eye;
dorsum unicolor, or with a
pattern of spots or rhombs.......…………................28
28. Ventrals 199-211, subcaudals
82-119; dorsal pattern of light
brown rhombs, center of scales
forming pattern lighter .…………………....Coluber ventromaculatus
Ventrals 205-244, subcaudals 110-144;
dorsal pattern of dark spots or
unicolor, scales of the pattern unicolor ...............Coluber rhodorachis
29. Three supralabials in eye.......................………..30
Less than three supralabials in eye...……...........31
30. Ventrals 160 or fewer..........……….....Amphiesma stolata
Ventrals more than 160....…………........Amphiesma platyceps
31. A pair of supralabials touching eye................32
One supralabial touching eye .............Xenochrophis cerasogaster
32. A pair of anterior temporals; ventrals 160 or less..................33
Single anterior temporal; ventrals 60 or more...........Natrix tessellata
33. A pair of oblique orbitolabial dark stripes;
dorsum light olive, with pattern of dark spots .........Xenochrophis piscator
Orbitolabial stripes indistinct;
dorsum yellowish green, unicolor ................ Xenochrophis sanctijohannis

Genus Amphiesma Dúmeril, Bibron and Dúmeril, 1854

Three species are reported from Pakistan. Amphiesma platyceps and Amphiesma
sieboldii are regarded as simbling species (Malnate 1966).

Amphiesma platyceps (Blyth)

 9

(Spotted keel back:Chitra khar-pusht)

1854 Tropidonotus platyceps Blyth, J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, Calcutta 23:297.
Type locality: Assam and Darjeeling, Eastern Himalayas.
Distribution in Pakistan: In Pakistan it is known only from Changla Gali, western
NWFP.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Extends from the western to the eastern Himalayas.
Known to be common in Darjeeling District, between 1500 and 3000 m of elevation.
Amphiesma sieboldii (Günther)
(SubHimalayan keelback: Damni khar-pusht)
1860 Herpetoreas sieboldii Günther, Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1860:156.
Type locality: Sikkim, 2500 m.
Distribution in Pakistan: Ghora Gali in alpine Punjab, Pakistan.
Distribution outside Pakistan: From Assam in the Eastern Himalayas.

Amphiesma stolatus (Linnaeus)

(Striped keelback: Lakeer-dar khar-push)
1758 Coluber stolatus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 1(10):219.
Type locality: Asia.
Distribution in Pakistan: Widely distributed in Indus Valley, not crossing west of the
Indus River into Balochistan.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Most widely distributed snakes in Southeast Asia. It
extends from the valley of the Mekong River in Laos, Thailand, north to southern China,
then throughout India, Bangladesh, Burma, Sri Lanka, to the Indus valley in Pakistan.
Genus Argyrogena Werner, 1924

Single species is known from Pakistan.

Argyrogena fasciolatus (Shaw)
(Banded racer:Patta taiz-rau)
1802 Coluber fasciolatus Shaw, Gen. Zool. 3:528.
Type locality: India.
Distribution in Pakistan: Known from Sindh and southern Punjab.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Extends from Bangladesh throughout India and Sri
Lanka.

Genus Boiga Fitzinger, 1826

Two morphologically very closely species are reported from Pakistan, which are
geographically isolated. from each other.
Boiga trigonata (Schneider)
(Common cat snake: Maidani Billi-chisham)
1802 Coluber trigonatus Schneider, Naturgesch. Amph. 4:156 (256).
Type locality: Vizagapatam, southern India.
Distribution in Pakistan: Throughout Indus valley exclusive of higher mountains and
Balochistan highland.
Distribution outside Pakistan: From Bangladesh throughout India, Sri Lanka,
Kashmir, and Pakistan.
 10

Boiga melanocephala (Annandale)

(Dark head cat-snake:Siah-sar billi-chisham)
1904 Dipsadomorphus trigonata melanocephala Annandale, J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal,
Calcutta 73: 209.
Type locality: Border between Iran and Balochistan.
Distribution in Pakistan:: Western Balochistan.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Through eastern Iran, Saudi Arabia, north to southern
Uzbekistan.
Genus Coluber Linnaeus, 1758
Nine species and subspecies are reported from Pakistan.

Coluber karelini karelini Brandt

(Banded desert racer:Patti-dar koluber saamp)
1838 Coluber (Tyria) karelini Brandt, Bull. Acad. Sci. St. Petersburg 3: 243.
Type locality: Southwestern Asia.
Distribution in Pakistan: Recorded from Quetta and Pishin area. Specimens have also
been collected from northwestern Punjab, from Sulaiman Range.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Recorded from Transcaspia to Kirghiz and southward
to Iran.
Coluber karelini mintonorum Mertens
(Minton’s racer: Minton ka koluber saamp)
1969 Coluber karelini mintonorum Mertens,Stuttg.Beitr.Naturk. 197:56-60.
Type locality:Zangi-Nawar, 27 km southwest of Nushki, District Chagai, Balochistan.
Distribution in Pakistan: Reported from sand desert in the Chagai area. The author
collected two specimens from the Sulaiman Range, in western Punjab, Pakistan, in a
rocky area.

Coluber ravergieri Ménétriés

(Mountain racer: Pahari koluber saamp)
1832 Coluber ravergieri Ménétriés, Cat. Rrais. Obj. Zool.: 69.
Type locality: Baku, Azarbaijan.
Distribution in Pakistan: Recorded from mountainous areas in northern Balochistan to
Chitral.
Distribution outside Pakistan: A western Asian snake, it extends from Transcaucasia
to Israel to western Mongolia.
Coluber rhodorachis rhodorachis (Jan)
(Cliff racer:Chattani koluber saamp)
1865 Zamenis rhodorachis Jan, In: de Filippi, Note viaggio. Persia :356.
Type locality: Persia (Iran).
Distribution in Pakistan: Recorded from Balochistan, and is common around Karachi, .
however, it does not extend in plains of Punjab.
Distribution outside Pakistan: The cliff racer has a wide range in the west, from
Turkmenistan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia and extends to Somalia.
Coluber rhodorachis ladacensis (J. Anderson)
(Ladakh Coluber: Ladak koluber saamp)
1871 Zamenis ladacensis Anderson, J. Asiatic Soci. Bengal, Calcutta 40:16.
 11

Type locality: Ladakh, Baltistan, northeastern Pakistan.

Distribution in Pakistan: Quetta (Balochistan) and Peshawar (NWFP).
Coluber rhodorachis kashmirensis M. S. Khan and A. Q. Khan
(Kashmir cliff racer: Kashmir koluber saamp)
2000 Coluber rhodorachis kashmirensis M. S. Khan and A. Q. Khan, Pakistan J.
Zool.32(1):49.
Type locality: Goi Madan, Kotli, Azad Kashmir.
Distribution in Pakistan: The cliff racer was collected from several localities in
southern Azad Kashmir, Mirpur, Bhimbar, Dulliah Jattan, Kotli, Goi Madan, Aram Bari,
Palandri, Punch, Bagh, and Muzaffarabad.
Coluber ventromaculatus ventromaculatus Gray and Hardwicke
(Plain’s racer: Maidani koluber saamp)
1834 Coluber ventromaculatus Gray and Hardwicke, Ill. Ind. Zool. 2, Plate 80, Figure 1.
Type locality: not stated.
Distribution in Pakistan: Widely distributed in the Indo-Gangetic plains through
India and Pakistan, below 200 m.
Distribution outside Pakistan: It extends westward to Uzbekistan and Israel.
Coluber ventromaculatus bengalensis M. S. Khan and Q. Khan
(Bengal racer:Bangali koluber saamp)
2000 Coluber ventromaculatus bengalensis M. S. Khan and A. Q. Khan, Pakistan J.
Zool., 32(1):50-51.
Type locality: Bengal.

Distribution in Pakistan: A rare snake in Punjab, Pakistan.

Coluber ventromaculatus indusai M. S. Khan and A. Q. Khan
(Sindhi racer: Do-ab koluber saamp)
2000 Coluber ventromaculatus indusai M. S. Khan and Q. Khan, Pakistan J.
Zool., 32(1): 50-51.
Type locality: Indus Valley, Pakistan.

Distribution in Pakistan: Indus Valley, Pakistsan.

Genus Enhydris Sonnini and Latreille, 1802

Single species reported in Pakistan.

Enhydris pakistanica Mertens

(Sindhi ditch snake: Sindhi jheel saamp)
1959 Enhydris pakistanica Mertens, Senckenb. Biol. Frankfurt a.M. 40:117.
Type locality: Jati, Sindh, Pakistan.
Distribution in Pakistan: Reported only from the Indus Delta in lower Sindh, Pakistan.
Genus Lycodon Boie, 1826

Three species are known from Pakistan.

Lycodon aulicus aulicus (Linnaeus)
(White-spotted wolf snake: Chitra fraakh-dahan saamp)
 12

1758 Coluber aulicus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 10, 1: 220.

Type locality: America.
Distribution in Pakistan: Spotty in distribution, reported from different localities in
Sindh, Lahore and Rabwah, District Jhang, Pakistan.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Widely distributed throughout India, Sri Lanka, Nepal,
Assam, and Burma.
Lycodon striatus (Shaw)
(White-spotted wolf snake: Chittra fraakh-dahan saamp)
1802 Coluber striatus Shaw, Gen. Zool 3: 527.
Type locality: Vizagapatam and Hyderabad, southern India.
In Pakistan this snake has rather spotty distribution, reported from different
localities in Sindh, Lahore and Rabwah, District Jhang, Pakistan (Khan 1993a).
Distribution: It ranges from Chota Nagpur in the east throughout India and Sri Lanka. In
Pakistan it is collected from different localities in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and
NWFP. It extends westward to Transcaspia and Central Asia. In Pakistan its two races are
distinguished as follows:
Lycodon striatus striatus (Shaw)
(Indus Valley wolf snake: Sindh fraakh-dahan saamp)
1802 Coluber striatus Shaw, Gen. Zool. 3: 527.
Type locality: Vizagapatam and Hyderabad, southern India.
Distribution in Pakistan: Mainly the Indus Valley and along the coastal strip.
Lycodon striatus bicolor (Nikolsky)
(Golden wolf snake:Sunahra fraakh-dahan saamp)
1903 Contia bicolor Nikolsky, Ann. Mus. Zool. Acad. Sci. St. Petersburg, 8: 96.
Type locality: Transcaspia.
Distribution in Pakistan: It is the northwestern race of the species, extending into
Pakistan from upland Balochistan and Waziristan, NWFP.
Lycodon travancoricus (Beddome)
(South Indian wolf snake: Dakhni fraakh-dahaan saamp)
1870 Cercaspis travancoricus Beddome, Madras Monthly J. Med. Sci. 2: 169.
Type locality: Travancore Hills, southern India.
Distribution in Pakistan: Reported once from Hyderabad, Sindh.
Distribution outside Pakistan: This snake is widely reported from southern India.

Genus Lytorhynchus Peters, 1862

Three species are known from Pakistan.

Lytorhynchus maynardi Alcock and Finn

(Balochi awl-head sand snake:Baloch crotia-sar saamp)
1896 Lytorhynchus maynardi Alcock and Finn, J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, Calcutta
65:562.
Type locality: South of Koh Malik-do-Khand, Afghan-Balochistan border, Pakistan.
Distribution in Pakistan: Characteristic snake of windblown sand dune habitat of
western Balochistan. It has been recorded from Nushki to eastern Iran in the west.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Eastern Iran.
Lytorhynchus paradoxus (Günther)
 13

(Sindhi awl-head sand snake: Sindh crotia-sar saamp)

1875 Aconitophis paradoxus Günther, Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1875: 232.
Type locality: Northern India, restricted to Zangipur, northern Sindh, Pakistan.
Distribution: This sand snake extends from the Thar Cholistan, deserts and Thal
Deserts in northwestern Punjab, Pakistan.
Lytorhynchus ridgewayi Boulenger
(Afghan awl-head sand snake: Afghan crotia-sar saamp)
1887 Lytorhynchus ridgewayi Boulenger, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. London 20(5):
413.
Type locality: Chinkalok, Afghanistan.
Distribution in Pakistan: Reported from western Balochistan up to an elevation of
2000 m.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Extends to Transcaspia, central Iran, and
Afghanistan.
Genus Natrix Laurenti, 1768
Single species in Pakistan.
Natrix tessellata (Laurenti)
(Blotched water snake: Chittra nadi-wala saamp)
1768 Coronella tessellata Laurenti, Spec. Med., Syn. Rept.:87.
Type locality: “in Japidia (= Lapydia), vulgo Cars (= alpine meadow)” (probably
Italy).
Distribution in Pakistan: Reported from Mastuj in Chitral, NWFP, Pakistan by Wall
(1911a), with no subsequent confirmation.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Widely distributed in central and southeastern Europe
to Western Asia, as far as Turkey, across southwestern Asia to Pakistan. Also reported
from Iraq, Syria, and Jordan to the Nile Delta in Egypt.

Genus Oligodon Boie, 1827

Two species known from Pakistan.

Oligodon arnensis arnensis (Shaw)

(Banded kukri snake:Patta kukri saamp)

1802 Coluber arnensis Shaw, Gen. Zool. 3: 526.
Type locality: Vizagapatam and Arni, southern India.
Distribution in Pakistan: Reported from Sindh, throughout Punjab and southern
NWFP.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Bengal, central Nepal, central and peninsular India,
and Sri Lanka.
Oligodon taeniolatus taeniolatus (Jerdon)
(Streaked kukri snake:Dahari-dar kukri saamp)
1853 Coronella taeniolata Jerdon, J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, Calcutta 22:528.
Type locality: Vizagapatam, peninsular India.
Distribution in Pakistan: Recorded throughout the plains from Rawalpindi to Las
Bela, at low altitudes.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Recorded from Bihar, throughout India and Sri Lanka.
 14

Genus Psammophis Fitzinger, 1826

Four species reported in Pakistan.

Psammophis condanarus condanarus (Merrem)

(Indo-Burmese sand snake: Burman teer-mar)
1820 Coluber condanarus Merrem, Tent. Syst. Amp.: 107.
Type locality: Ganjam District, Orissa, India.
Distribution in Pakistan: records are from Jacobabad, Lahore, and the Indus Delta. In
the western Himalayas it is one of the commonest snakes at altitudes between 1000 and
2000 m (Wall 1911b).
Distribution in Pakistan: Known from western Bengal, Orissa to Bombay, Sindh and
Punjab.
Psammophis leithii leithii Günther
(Sindhi ribbon snake: Sindhi teer-mar)
1869 Psammophis leithii Günther, Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1869: 505.
Type locality: Sindh, Pakistan.
Distribution in Pakistan: Recorded from Azad Kashmir, the Thar, Cholistan, and Thal
Deserts to Kalat District in Balochistan, below 800 m of elevation. It is fairly common
in lower Indus Valley.
Distribution outside Pakistan: A northern Indian snake, ranging from the United
Provinces of India, Poona to Waziristan and southeastern Balochistan, in the west.
Psammophis lineolatus lineolatus (Brandt)
(Steppe ribbon snake: Patta teer-mar)
1838 Coluber (Taphrometopon) lineolatus Brandt, Bull. Acad. Imp. Sci. St. Petersburg
3: 243.
Type locality: Transcaspia.
Distribution in Pakistan: Recorded around Quetta, Balochistan.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Central Asian species extending from Transcaspia to
northern Iran, east to Mongolia and northwest China.
Psammophis schokari schokari (Forskål)
(Saharo-Sindhian ribbon snake: Saharae teer-mar)
1775 Coluber schokari Forskål, Descr. Anim.:14.
Type locality: Yemen, South Arabia.
Distribution in Pakistan: It extends in Cholistan and Thal Deserts of Punjab, Pakistan.
Distribution outside Pakistan:: Geographical range of P. schokari is continuous across
northern Africa through Somalia, southwestern Asia to Soviet Central Asia, Balochistan
and Sindh.
Genus Pseudocyclophis Boettger, 1888

Single species in Pakistan.

Pseudocyclophis persica (J. Anderson)
(Dark head dwarf-racer: Irani bauna taiz-rau saamp)
1872 Cyclophis persicus J. Anderson, Proc. Zool. Soc London 1872:371-404.
Type locality: Neu-Serachs, northeastern Persia.
 15

Distribution in Pakistan: Reported from Balochistan, western Sindh to Swat in the

north.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Reported from Turkmenistan, Iraq, and Iran.
Genus Ptyas Fitzinger, 1843

Single species in Pakistan.

Ptyas mucosus mucosus (Linnaeus)

(Rope-snake or Dhaman: Dahaman)
1758 Coluber mucosus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 1(10): 226.
Type locality: India.
Distribution in Pakistan: Widely distributed in Indus Valley, Balochistan and NWFP.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Range quite extensive in Southeast Asia; from Java,
Sumatra, Viet Nam, and China, it extends throughout India, the Andaman Islands, Sri
Lanka, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. It particularly avoids deserts throughout its
range. It is common at moderate elevations of 200 m, however, it has been recoded about
1600 m of elevation near Quetta.
Genus Sibynophis Fitzinger, 1843

Single species in Pakistan.

Sibynophis sagittarius (Cantor)

(Golden snake:Sunahra saamp)
1839 Calamaria sagittaria Cantor, Proc. Zool. Soc. London: 49
Type locality: Western Himalayas.
Distribution in Pakistan: Recorded from Azad Kashmir.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Western Himalayas; Ganges basin, and lower Bengal.
Genus Spalerosophis Jan, 1865

Three species are known from Pakistan.

Spalerosophis arenarius (Boulenger)
(Red-spotted diadem snake: Regasthani surakh saamp)
1890 Zamenis arenarius Boulenger, Fauna. Brit. Ind. : 329.
Type locality: Sindh and Karachi, Pakistan. Restricted by Marx (1959) to Karachi.
Distribution: Apart from Cholistan and the Thar Deserts, it has recently been reported
from Dera Ghazi Khan and the Thal Desert in northwestern Punjab, Pakistan (Khan
1999a).
Spalerosophis diadema (Schlegel)
(Blotched diadem snake: Surakh chittra chua khana saamp)
1837 Coluber diadema Schlegel, Phys. Serp., 2: 148.
Type locality: Buchier "near Bombay", India.
Distribution in Pakistan: Recorded from throughout NWFP, Punjab, Sindh and
Balochistan, from sea level to 2000 m, in Gilgit, northern Pakistan.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Widely distributed throughout India, Bangladesh, and
northern Sri Lanka.
Spalerosophis atriceps (Fisher)
 16

(Variegated diadem snake: Dabba chua khana saamp)

1885 Zamenis diadema var. atriceps Fisher, Jahrb. Hamburg Wiss. Anst. 2: 82-119.
Type locality: Himalayas.
Notes: A colour mutant of Spalerosophis diadema as it grows old.
Spalerosophis schirazianus (Jan)
(Persian diadem snake: Irani surakh saamp)
1865 Periops parallelus var. schiraziana Jan, in: de Filippi, Note viaggio Persia : 356.
Type locality: Shiraz, Iran.
Distribution in Pakistan: It is at its easternmost distribution range and has been
recorded from western Balochistan and Las Bela.
Distribution out side Pakistan: : It has wider range in the west, from Transcaspia to
the Zagros Mountains in southern Iran and Tajikistan.
Genus Telescopus Wagner, 1830
A single species in Pakistan.

Telescopus rhinopoma (Blanford)

(Desert cat snake: Regasthani billi-chishm saamp)
1874 Dipsas rhinopoma Blanford, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. London 13:34.
Type locality: Kirman, southern Iran.
Distribution in Pakistan: Waziristan. Kacha Thana, Balochistan, Miranshah, Tochi
Valley, Waziristan, NWFP. A specimen BMNH 94.210.4.4. from Sindh is in the British
Museum, London.
Distribution outside Pakistan: South-central Iran

Genus Xenochrophis

Three species recorded from Pakistan.

Xenochrophis cerasogaster cerasogaster (Cantor)
(Red-belly marsh snake:Surakh dhoobi saamp)
1839 Psammophis cerasogaster Cantor, Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1839:52.
Type locality: Near Calcutta, India.
Distribution in Pakistan: it is known only from lower Sindh.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Ranges widely in the Indo-Gangetic plains, from Assam
through Bangladesh, to the Indus Delta. Northward it extends up to Nepal.
Xenochrophis piscator piscator (Schneider)
(Checkered keelback:Chittra dhoobi saamp)
1799 Hydrus piscator Schneider, Hist. Amphib.1:247.
Type locality: East Indies.
Distribution in Pakistan: It is quite common in all major drainage systems in the upper
and lower Indus Valley.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Has wide distribution in southeast Asia, from Borneo,
Taiwan, throughout India, westward to the Indus Delta.
Xenochrophis sanctijohannis Boulenger (Plate. 123)
(Olive water snake: Zatooni dhoobi saamp)
1890 Tropidonotus sancti-johannis Boulenger, Fauna Brit. Ind.:350.
Type locality: Kashmir.
 17

Distribution in and outside Pakistan: Primarily a highland water snake, it is washed

down the Sutlej River and finds its way into irrigation channels in areas surrounding
Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur, southern Punjab, Pakistan.

ELAPIDS

Family Elapidae
Two genera in Pakistan.
Family Elapidae

1. Vertebral row of dorsals distinctly enlarged,

subcaudals not divided …………………..........Bungarus
Vertebral row not enlarged; subcaudals divided....................Naja

Genus Bungarus Daudin, 1803

Two species in Pakistan

Bungarus caeruleus caeruleus (Schneider)

(Common krait: Sangchoor saamp)
1801 Pseudoboa caerulea Schneider, Hist. Amphib. 2: 284.
Type locality: Vizagapatam, southern India.
Distribution in Pakistan: Reported from throughout Punjab including the alpine area,
NWFP, Azad Kashmir, Sindh, and southern Balochistan
Distribution outside Pakistan: The common krait is reported from Bangladesh,
throughout India, and northern Sri Lanka.
Bungarus sindanus sindanus Boulenger
(Sindhi krait: Sindhi sangchoor saamp)
1897 Bungarus sindanus Boulenger, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 11: 73-74.
Type locality: Umarkot and Sukkhur, Sindh, Pakistan.
Distribution: The Sindhi krait has been reported from Umar Kot and Khanpur in
Sindh, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rhimyar Khan, Mianwali and Makerwal in Punjab,
Pakistan.
Bungarus sindanus razai M. S. Khan
(Northwestern Punjab krait: Punjab sangchoor saamp)
1985 Bungarus sindanus razai M. S. Khan, The Snake 17:71-78.
Type locality: Dandot, District Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan.
Distribution in Pakistan: Northwestern highland, Punjab, Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.
Genus Naja Laurenti, 1768

Naja naja naja (Linnaeus)

(Black cobra: Sheesh nag)
1758 Coluber naja Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. (10)1:221.
Type locality: India, Oriental region.
Distribution in Pakistan: Extends along the eastern border of the Indus from NWFP,
Punjab, and Sindh.
 18

Distribution outside Pakistan: Reported from sea level to 4000 m in the Himalayas
from Bangladesh, throughout India and Sri Lanka.
Naja oxiana (Eichwald)
(Brown cobra: Bhoora nag)
1831 Tomyris oxiana Eichwald, Zool. Spec. 3: 171.
Type locality: Transcaspian Region.
Distribution in Pakistan: Reported from throughout NWFP, northeastern Balochistan
to northwestern Punjab and Kashmir.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Occurs from Transcaspia and southern Turkmenistan,
eastern Iran, and Afghanistan.
HYDROPHIDS

Family Hydrophiidae
There are 14 species of 7 genera of sea snakes known from the coasts of
Pakistan.
Key to the snakes of Family Hydrophiidae in Pakistan
1. Ventrals distinct throughout, normally undivided.........................2
Ventrals, except anterior, either
divided by a median longitudinal fissure or indistinct..............................3
2. Mental scale elongate, partially
hidden in a groove between first
infralabial; ventrals uniform in size............Enhydrina schistosa
Mental scale normal........................…………………...5
3. Head very small; neck long, slender;
body thick; ventrals divided by a longitudinal fissure...........4
Head and body not as above.........……………….........12
4. Prefrontal touches third
supralabial; ventrals 404-468 ........................Microcephalophis cantoris
Prefrontal not touching third
supralabial; ventrals 320-350...………………...... Microcephalophis gracilis
5. Ventrals broad anteriorly, narrower posteriorly............Paraescutata viperina
Ventrals uniform in size........……………….................6
6. Adult with very small head and
long, slender neck..................…………………….........7
Adult with large head; neck not
distinct from body ................…………………..............8
7. Ventrals 390 or more...........………………...Hydrophis fasciatus
Ventrals fewer than 390.....………………..... Hydrophis mamillaris
8. Scales on thickest part of
body with round or blunt tips; imbricate;
adult length more than a meter........………………..........9
Scales on thickest part of body
hexagonal or quadrangular; imbricate
or juxtaposed; length rarely exceeds a meter.......................10
9. Normally one anterior temporal.......……….... Hydrophis spiralis
Normally a pair of anterior temporals………... Hydrophis cyanocinctus
 19

10. Adults with bluish-gray bands on body;

maxillary teeth less than 13.....…………........ Hydrophis caerulescens
Adult with dark-gray or greenish
bands on body maxillary teeth less than 13......................11
11. Top of head with curved
yellow mark; ventrals 314-322..……………..Hydrophis lepemoides
No mark on top of head; ventrals 209-312............. Hydrophis ornatus
12. Dorsals juxtaposed........................13
Dorsals pointed, strongly imbricate; ventrals indistinct.……..Astrotia stokesii
13. Ventrals distinct anteriorly, indistinct posteriorly..........Lapemis curtus
Ventrals with a longitudinal fissure;
dorsals subquardrangular ........................... .Pelamydrus platurus

Genus Astrotia Fisher, 1856

Single species in Pakistan.
Astrotia stokesii (Gray)
(Big-head sea snake: Dhurmat samundri saamp )
1846 Hydrus stokesii Gray, in: Stokes. Australia1: 502.
Type locality: Australian Sea.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan: This snakes has been reported from the Far East,
Australia, Malay Peninsula, Bay of Patani, Singapore, Sri Lanka, along peninsular India,
and extending along the Makran Coast in Pakistan.
Genus Enhydrina Gray, 1849

Single species reported from Pakistan

Enhydrina schistosa (Daudin)

(Beaked sea snake: Chonchu samundri saamp)
1803 Hydrophis schistosus Daudin, Hist. Nat. Rept. 7: 386.
Type locality: Tranquebar, peninsular India.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan: It ranges from the Gulf of Oman eastward to the
coast of southern Viet Nam, along Australia to Rockhampton. It is a most common sea
snake along the coastal waters of Pakistan.
Genus Hydrophis Latreille, 1802
Seven species are known from the shores of Pakistan.

Hyrdrophis caerulescens (Shaw)

(Blue-green sea snake: Neela samundri saamp)
1802 Hydrus caerulescens Shaw, Gen. Zool. 3:561.
Type locality: Indian Ocean.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan:It has a wide range in Southeast Asia, from the
northern coast of Australia, to Queensland, Borneo, Java, Malaya, Myanmar,and along
the coasts of China, Siam, India. In Pakistan it has been reported from the Karachi coast.
Hydrophis cyanocinctus Daudin
(Annulated sea snake:Patta samundri saamp)
 20

1803 Hydrophis cyanocinctus Daudin, Hist. Nat. Rept. 7:383.

Type locality: Sunderband, Bangladesh.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan: It is a wide ranging species which extends from
the Persian Gulf along the coastal waters of Pakistan, the Indian coast, Sri Lanka,
Bangladesh, Siam (Thailand), Islands of Indonesia to the Sea of Japan.
Hydrophis fasciatus (Schneider)
(Small-head banded sea snake: Daula pattadar samundri saamp)
1799 Hydrus fasciatus Schneider, Hist. Amphib. 1:240.
Type locality: East Indies.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan: From coastal Pakistan it extends along the Indian
coast, Sri Lanka, Burma to the Strait of Malaca.
Hydrophis lapemoides (Gray)
(Persian sea snake:Irani samundri saamp)
1849 Auteria lapemoides Gray, Cat. Sn. Brit. Mus.: 46.
Type locality: Madras, India and Sri Lanka.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan:It ranges from the Persian Gulf, along the coasts
of Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka.
Hydrophis mamillaris (Daudin)
(Broad-band sea snake:Patta dar samundri saamp)
1803 Anguis mamillaris Daudin, Hist. Nat. Rept.7:340.
Type locality: Vizagapatam, peninsular India.

Distribution in and outside Pakistan: From the Karachi coast, along peninsular India.
Hydrophis ornatus (Gray)
(Reef sea snake: Monga samundri saamp)
1842 Auteria ornata Gray, Zool. Mis. :61.
Type locality: Indian Ocean.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan: It ranges from the Persian Gulf, along coastal
Karachi, peninsular India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Siam, and New Guinea.
Hydrophis spiralis (Shaw)
(Yellow sea snake:Peela samundri saamp)
1802 Hydrus spiralis Shaw, Gen. Zool, 3:564.
Type locality: Indian ocean.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan: It ranges from the Persian Gulf along coastal
Pakistan and India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Burma to Celebes and the Philippines.
Genus Lapemis Gray, 1835

Single species known from Pakistan coastal waters.

Lapemis curtus (Shaw)
(Pygmy sea snake:Bauna samundri saamp)
1802 Hydrus curtus Shaw, Gen. Zool. 3: 562.
Type locality: unknown.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan:This snake has been recorded from the Persian
Gulf, along the Makran and Karachi coasts, peninsular India, Sri Lanka to Madras.

Genus Microcephalophis Lesson, 1834

 21

Two species known from Pakistan.

Microcephalophis cantoris (Günther)

(Spotted small-head sea snake:Chittra daola)
1864 Microcephalophis cantoris Günther, Rept. Brit. Ind. :376.
Type locality: “Penang” China.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan: It ranges from Karachi to Cannore, and on the
east from Orissa to Chittagong. Reports from Penag, China have not been subsequently
confirmed.
Microcephalophis gracilis (Shaw)
(Banded small-head sea snake:Patta daola samundri saamp)
1802 Hydrus gracilis Shaw, Gen. Zool., 3: 560.
Type locality: unknown.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan: It ranges from Persian Gulf, around the coast of
Pakistan, India to China, Hong Kong, Borneo, and northern Australia.
Genus Pelamis Daudin, 1803

Pelamis platurus (Linnaeus)

(Pelagic sea snakes: Azad samundri saamp)

1766 Anguis platura Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. 1(12): 391.

Type locality: unknown.

Distribution in and outside Pakistan: It ranges from the Persian Gulf westward to the
Cape of Good Hope; eastward from coastal Pakistan to New Zealand, then northward to
Possiet Bay, Kamchatka. In American waters it has been recorded from the Gulf of
California to Ecuador.

Genus Praescutata Wall, 1921

Single species known from Pakistan.
Praescutata viperina (Ph. Schmidt)
(Spotted viperine sea snake: Samundri afi)
1852 Thalassophis viperina Ph. Schmidt, Abh. Naturwiss. Ver. Hamburg 2:79.
Type locality: Java.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan: It ranges from Persian Gulf along Makran coast,
around coastal India to southern China, thence to Borneo and Java.
VIPERIDS

Family Viperidae

Five genera of viperid snakes in Pakistan.

Key to the snakes of Family Viperidae in Pakistan
1. Snout flanked with enlarged,
butterfly-like scales jutting out laterally .............Eristicophis macmahonii
 22

Snout flanked with small scales......……...........2

2. Laterals small, strongly
oblique, with serrated keels ………….....Echis carinatus
Laterals with entire keels..………...................3
3. A group of elevated supraoculars
forming "horn"; keels ending in knobs.........Pseudocerastes persicus
No supraorbital horn; keels normal..…………...........4
4. Pattern of indistinct blotches on body;
midbody scale rows 23-27.....………….........Vipera lebetina
Pattern of three rows of vivid dark brown ocelli;
ocelli of middorsum, often fused to form a chain;
27-33 scale rows at midbody ………….......Daboia russelii

Genus Daboia Gray, 1842

Single species in Pakistan.

Daboia russelii russelii (Shaw and Nodder)

(Russell’s chain viper:Koriala afi)
1797 Coluber russelii Shaw and Nodder, Vivar. Nat. or Nat. Mis. 8:291.
Type locality: Coromandel coast, southern India.
Distribution in Pakistan: Recorded from throughout the Indus Valley, from Karachi to
Rawalpindi, at low altitudes.
Distribution outside Pakistan: Reported from throughout India to Bangladesh, extends
into peninsular India and Sri Lanka. It is distinguished in several races throughout
Southeast Asia to Taiwan (Wüster 1998b).
.
Genus Echis Merrem, 1820
Echis carinatus (Schneider)
(Saw scale viper:Khappra saamp)
1801 Pseudoboa carinata Schneider, Hist. Amphib. ii. : 285.
Type locality: Arni, near Madras, India.
Distribution: Saw-scale vipers are widely distributed from northern Africa, through the
Middle East, southern former Russia, descending to Iran, Afghanistan, most of Pakistan
excluding the high northern mountains, India, and Sri Lanka.
Echis carinatus has been distinguished in more than ten races, of which the
African are now recognized as species. At least following three races are represented in
Pakistan.
Echis carinatus astolae Mertens
(Dark blotched saw-scale viper: Astola khappra saamp)
1969 Echis carinatus astolae Mertens, Stuttg. Beitr. Naturk. 216: 3-4.
Type locality: Astola Island, 25 km SE off the Pasni coast, Balochistan.
Distribution in Pakistan: This race has been described from Astola Island, 25 km
southeast off the Pasni coast, Balochistan, Pakistan.
Echis carinatus multisquamatus Cherlin
(Wariristan saw-scale viper: Waziristan khappra saamp)
 23

1981 Echis carinatus multisquamatus Cherlin, Proc. Zool. Inst. Acad. Sci. 101:92-95.
Type locality: Bayram-Ali, Marysk area, Turkmenia.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan: From the Caspian Sea, through Turkmenistan,
into Bukhara, Samarkand and Tashkent to Tajikistan along the Afghan border, up to
Hindu Kush, northeastern Balochistan and eastern Iran.
Echis carinatus sochureki Stemmler
(Sindh Valley saw-scale viper: Sindhi khappra saamp)
1969 Echis carinatus sochureki Stemmler, Aquaterra 6 (10):118-125.
Type locality: Band Kushdil Khan, Peshin, Balochistan.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan: It ranges to northern India, the whole of
Pakistan except high mountains in north, southern Afghanistan, central Iran to the
Iranian Gulf coast and Khuzestan.

Genus Eristicophis Alcock and Finn, 1896

A monotypic genus of snakes which are characteristic of Balochistan desert.

Eristicophis macmahonii Alcock & Finn
(Leaf-nose viper:Titli afi)

1897 Eristicophis macmahonii Alcock and Finn, J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, Calcutta n.s.
65:564.
Type locality: Desert south of Helmand, Balochistan, Pakistan.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan: So far, this snake has been recorded from Seistan
in the extreme east of Iran into Afghanistan south of the Helmand River and
southwestern Balochistan, between the Chagai Hills and the Siahn Range, east to Nushki.
Genus Pseudocerastes Boulenger, 1896

Single species known in Pakistan.

Pseudocerastes persicus (Dúmeril, Bibron & Dúmeril)
(Prersian horned viper: Irani seengh-wala afi)
1854 Cerastes persicus Dúmeril, Bibron and Dúmeril, Erpet. Gen. 7:1443.
Type locality: Persia.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan: This snake has been collected up to 2200 m
of elevation. It has been recorded from Azerbaijan and northern Iraq through Iran south
to Persian Gulf, eastward to central Afghanistan and western Las Bela.
Genus Macrovipera Reuss, 1927

Single species in Pakistan.

Macrovipera lebetina (Dwigubsky)

(Levantine viper: Roomi afi)
1832 Vipera obtusa Dwigubsky, Opyt estetv. Istorii 3:30.
Type locality: Jelisawetpol, Transcaucasia.
Distribution in and outside Pakistan: Its Range extends from Caucasus to Lebanon,
through southern Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In Pakistan its records are from the
Waziristan Hills, Quetta highlands, and Chitral.
 24

CROTALIDS

Family Crotalidae

A single genus represented in alpine Pakistan.

Genus Gloydius Hoge and Romano-Hoge, 1981

Single species known from alpine Pakistan.

Gloydius himalayanus (Günther)

(Himalayan pit-viper: Hamaliai hafra afi)
1864 Halys himalayanus Günther, Rept. Brit. Ind.: 393.
Type locality: Garhval, western Himalayas, India.

Distribution in and outside Pakistan: The Himalayan pitviper is recorded from

Nathia Gali in the western Himalayas and eastern NWFP, Pakistan (Khan and Tasnim
1986). The author has seen a specimen in the Government College Natural History
Museum, Lahore, Pakistan, from the Dosai Plains, Baltistan, northeastern Pakistan. The
viper is known to be very common in the western Himalayas, less so beyond Nepal (Wall
1910). However, its range extends from Sikkim to Chitral in the north, extending into
eastern NWFP, Pakistan.

VENOMOUS SNAKES OF PAKISTAN AND SNAKEBITE PROBLEM

Yearly mortality rate throughout world, due to venomous snakebite, is estimated

between 30000 and 40000 (Swaroop and Grab, 1954). Heaviest mortality in Asia is
reported from Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan (Chirsty, 1967). Khan (1990)
estimated about 1000 deaths per year from Pakistan, however, for neighbouring India,
Whitaker (1978) estimates 6000-9000 deaths and Murthy (1990) 10000-15000. In
Pakistan most of the snakebite reports are from the most populated parts, Punjab and
Indus delta, where about 95% of country's agricultural activity takes place. Khan's (1990)
per year estimates are partly based on data gathered from annual press reports: Punjab
150, Sindh 500, NWFP and Balochistan are less than 50.
In Pakistan about 80% of the population lives is urban areas, where nearly
everybody is engaged daily in some agriculture related activity. In the areas along the
eastern half of Punjab, the main cause of casualties are Bungarus caeruleus, Naja naja
and Daboia russelii, while bites by Echis carinatus are rare. In arid northwestern Punjab
the main offenders are Echis carinatus and Naja oxiana, bites by Bungarus caeruleus
being rare. In the reclaimed inter-river tracts in Punjab Echis carinatus, Naja naja and
Bungarus caeruleus are main offenders, Daboia russelii becomes rare. The picture
changes in the Salt Range, where main offender is Echis carinatus while Bungarus
caeruleus and Naja naja fall in second category, here Daboia russelii becomes rare. In
the lower Sindh mesic areas Bungarus caeruleus, Naja naja and Vipera russelii are main
offenders, while Echis carinatus confines itself to more desertic areas. Bites by
 25

Eristicophis macmahonii, Pseudocerastes persicus, Agkistrodon himalayanus and

Macrovipera lebetina are rare, since their habitat is rarely trespassed. (Table 1).
Proper identification is necessary for the effective treatment of snake poisoning.
In this chapter several aids are provided for the specific identification of poisonous
snakes of Pakistan.

Key to the venomous snakes of Pakistan

There is no clear-cut morphological distinction between venomous and
nonvenomous snakes in Pakistan. While handling a recently killed "dead" snake for
checking for its identification, precaution should be taken to keep away from its mouth,
sometimes a presumably "dead" snake may bite due to the reflex action which persists for
some time.
Following key is based on most apparent morphological characters, and do not
need closer inspection of the specimen.
Key to the species of terrestrial venomous snakes in Pakistan
1. Head covered with large symmetrically arranged scales............................2
Head covered with small irregularly arranged scales.................................8
2. A pit between eye and nostril; body scales keeled............Agkistrodon himalayanus
No pit between eye and nostril....................3
3. Loreal scale present.……………………………Family Colubridae (nonvenomous).
Loreal scales absent...... .......................4
4. Nostrils on dorsal side of the snout; tail flat......Family Hydrophiidae (Sea snakes)
Nostrils anterolateral; tail round ending at a point.........................5
5. Scales of median dorsal row distinctly broad.................................6
Dorsal scales similar.......................……………………………… 7
6. 15 midbody scales rows…………………………...........Bungarus caeruleus
17 midbody scale rows........………………………….....Bungarus sindanus
7. Ventrals 182-196...................…………………………....Naja naja
Ventrals 191-210................……………………………. ...Naja oxiana
8. Rostral scale flanked by enlarged butterfly-shaped scales.....Eristicophis macmahonii
No enlarged scales along rostral scale……………………….... ......9
9. Subcaudals undivided, in a row...…………………………...Echis carinatus
Subcaudals divided, in a double row..........………………………..10
10. A supraocular aggregation of scales forming a "horn" like
projection…………………………………………............Pseudocerastes persicus
No supraocular scale aggregation..........…………………………..11
11. Head thick elongated; nostrils distinctly enlarged, crescent-like......Daboia russelii
Head squarish, nostril small normal……………………………..Macrovipera lebetina

Latitudinal distribution of venomous snakes in Pakistan

 26

Terrestrial poisonous snakes of Pakistan are confined to plains, deserts and

mountains. Following table is prepared according to the latitudinal distribution of
poisonous snakes in Pakistan. The latitudinal distribution pattern of poisonous snakes
divides Pakistan into four biogeographical regions, each with its distinct poisonous snake
fauna (Khan, 1990). The biogeographical regions are briefly described and and list of
snakes particular to each region is provided.

___________________________________________________________________
Table 2. Latitudinal distribution of venomous snakes of Pakistan.
______________________________________________________________________
Biographical region Geographical limits Venomous species
________________________________________________________________________
A. Himalayan highland Hunza, Gilgit, Swat, Gloydius himalayanus,
1600-6000 m Dir, Chitral and Alpine Bungarus caeruleus,
Punjab Macrovipera lebetina, Naja oxiana.

B. Northwestern highland Kalat, Quetta, Sibi, ... Macrovipera lebetina

1000-3400 m Loralai, Zhob, Naja oxiana
Waziristan, Swat, Bungarus caeruleus
Chitral, Kurrum Echis carinatus
Agency, Peshawer, Pseudocerastes persicus
Dera Ismael Khan

C. Balochistan Desert Chagai, Kharan, Eristicophis macmahonii,

basin 160-1200 m lower Kallat, Khuzdar, Pseudocerastes persicus,
Makran, Las Bela Echis carinatus,
divisions Bungarus caeruleus

D. Upper and Lower Potwar plateau, Bungarus caeruleus,

Indus valley, Sargodha, Jhang, Naja naja, Echis carinatus,
sea level to 500 m Dera Ghazi Khan, Daboia russelii
Faisalabad, Multan,
Bhawalpur, Kherpur,
Larkana, Rhimyar Khan,
Hyderabad, Karachi
divisions
__________________________________________________________________

Table 3. NON VENOMOUS SPECIES OF SNAKES OFTEN CONFUSED WITH

VENOMOUS
Several nonvenomous snakes closely resemble and mimic poisonous sympatric species.
 27

Following key sorts out these confusing species: I=Nonvenomous species, confused with
Venomous species II, Distinguishing characters of venomous species III.
__________________________________________________________________
I II III
__________________________________________________________________
Eryx johnii, E. Echis carinatus Broad head, single row of subcaudals,
tataricus, E. laterals with saw keels
conicus,
Boiga trigonata and
B. melanocephala

Ptyas mucosus Naja naja No loreal scale,

Spalerosophis diadema Naja oxiana

Lycodon aulicus Bungarus caeruleus Enlarged neurals

Lycodon striatus
Argyrogena fasciolatus
Pseudocyclophis persicus
__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
Table 4. Identification of venomous snake by local symptoms.

A close study of the symptoms as they appear after snakebite yields clues that lead to the correct
identification of the snake involved in the bite. In the following table these symptoms are
enumerated systematically.
___________________________________________________________________________
Symptoms krait cobra viper
___________________________________________________________________________
Swelling at site of bite - 1-2 hours 1-2 hours
Discoloration - + +
Blisters - + extending on other parts of body
Severe pain - + +
Local necrosis - + +
Drowsiness + + -
Difficulty in
 28

swallowing, mouth
and eye opening + + -
Severe abdominal pain + - -
Limb weakness + + +
Salivation difficulty in
Breathing + + -
Bleeding - - +
Death quick quick delayed
________________________________________________________________________

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