Diversity of Serpentoid Reptiles (Snakes)

According to the published literature on snake fauna of Sri Lanka, a total of 101 snake species occur in the island, of which 47 are endemic. Out of above 101 species 86 snakes inhabit inland (terrestrial, fossorial, arboreal or freshwater) Eco systems while 15 sea snakes are also to date recorded from the Indian Ocean around the island. However status of following species is doubtful and needs to be examined with more samples.

1) Argyrogena fasciolata

2) Dendrelaphis oliveri

3) Dryocalamus gracilis 

4) Typhlops ceylonicus

5) Typhlops lankaensis

6) Typhlops malcolmi

7) Typhlos tenebrarum

8) Typhlops veddae

9) Typhlops violaceus

10) Platyplectrurus madurensis

11) Rhinophis dorsimaculatus

12) Rhinophis porrectus

13) Uropeltis ruhunae

14) Enhydris enhydris

Family: Acrochordidae (File/Wart Snakes)

Species: Wart  Snake/Cloth Snake/Diya-maha goda-maha/Diya goya/Redi naya (Acrochordus granulatus Schneider, 1799 )

Family: Boidae (Boas)

Species: Common Sand  Boa/Vali Pimbura/Kota pimbura (Gongylophis conicus  Schneider, 1801)

Family: Colubridae (Colubrid Snakes)

Species: Green Vine Snake/Ahatulla (Ahaetulla nasuta Lecepede 1789)

Species: Brown Vine Snake/Henakandaya (Ahaetulla pulverulenta Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854)

Species: Banded Racer/Val garadiya (Argyrogena fasciolata Shaw 1802)

Species: Barnes's Cat Snake/Panduru mapila (Boiga barnesii Gunther, 1869)

Species: Beddom's Cat Snake/Kaha mapila (Boiga beddomei Wall, 1909)

Species: Sri Lanka Cat Snake/Nidi mapila (Boiga ceylonensis Gunther, 1858)

Species: Forsten's Cat Snake/Naga mapila/Le Mapila (Boiga forsteni Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854)

Species: Common Indian Cat Snake/Raan mapila (Boiga trigonata trigonata Schneider, 1802)

Species: Sri Lanka Wolf Snake/Dara karavala (Cercaspis carinatus Kuhl, 1820)

Species: Ornate Flying Snake/Polmal karavala/Malsara (Chrysopelea ornata Shaw 1802)

Species: Sr Lanka Flying Snake/Dangaradanda (Chrysopelea taprobanica Smith, 1943)

Species: Trinket Snake/Katakaluva/Muduhabara (Coeloganthus helena Daudin, 1803)

Species: Boulenger's Bronze Back/Panduru Haldanda (Dendrelaphis bifrenalis Boullenger, 1890)

Species: Striped-tailed Bronze back?Viree Haldanda (Dendrelaphis caudolineolatus Gunther, 1869)

Species: Oliver's Bronze Back/Oliverge haldanda (Dendrelaphis oliveri Taylor, 1950)

Species: Forest Bronze backMukalan Haldanda (Dendrelaphis schokari Kuhl, 1820)

Species: Common Bronze back/ Turu haldanda (Dendrelaphis tristis Daudin, 1803)

Species: Scares Bridal Snake/Gunther's slender bridal snake/Meegata karavala (Dryocalamus gracilis Gunther, 1864)

Species: Common Bridal Snake/Gata Karavala (Dryocalamus nympha Daudin, 1803)

Species: Black-Spined Snake/Slender mould snake/Kurunkaravala/Rath karavala (Haplocercus ceylonensis Gunther 1858)

Species: Reed Snake/Punbariya (Liopeltis calamaria Gunther, 1858)

Species: Common Wolf Snake/Alu Radanakaya (Lycodon aulicus Linnaeus, 1758)

Species: Flowery Wolf Snake/Mal Radanakaya (Lycodon osmanhilli Taylor, 1950)

Species: Barred Wolf Snake/Shaw's Wolf Snake/Kabara Radanakaya (Lycodon striatus Shaw 1802)

Species: Common Banded Kukri Snake/Arani Datkatiya (Oligodon arnensis Shaw 1802)

Species: Templeton's  Kukri Snake/Kabara Datakatiya (Oligodon calamarius Linnaeus, 1758)

Species: Streaked Kukri Snake/Pulli Datkatiya (Oligodon sublineatus Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854)

Species: Russell's Kukri Snake (Oligodon taeniolata Jerdon 1853)

Variegated Kukri Snake/Viree Datkatiya (Oligodon taeniolata ceylonicus Wall, 1921)

Indian Streaked Kukri Snake/Pulli Datkatiya (Oligodon taeniolata fasciatus Gunther, 1864)

Species: Rat Snake/Garadiya (Ptyas mucosa Linnaeus, 1758 )

Species: Jerdon's Polyodent/Black-headed Snake (Sibynophis subpunctatus Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854)

Jerdon's Polyodent/Black-headed Snake/Dathigomaraya (Sibynophis subpunctatus ceylonicus de Silva, 1969 )

Family: Cylindrophidae (Pipe Snakes)

Species: Sri Lanka Pipe Snake/Depath Naya/Wataulla (Cylindrophis maculatus Linnaeus, 1758)

Family: Elapidae (Kraits, Coral Snakes & Cobras)

Sub Family: Elapinae

Species: Common Indian Krait/Tel Karavala/Magamaruwa (Bungarus caeruleus Schneider, 1801)

Species: Sri Lankan Krait (Bungarus ceylonicus Gunther 1864)

Sri Lankan Krait/Mudu karawala (Bungarus ceylonicus ceylonicus Gunther 1864)

Sri Lankan Krait/Hath karawala (Bungarus ceylonicus karavala Deraniyagala 1955)

Species: Slender Coral Snake/Depathkaluva (Calliophis melanurus Shaw, 1802)

Species: Red-bellied Coral Snake/Bada rathu Depathkaluwa (Calliophis hawmatoetron Smith et al., 2008)

Species: Indian Cobra/Naya (Naja naja Linnaeus, 1758)

Family: Homalopsidae

Species: Dog-faced Water Snake/Kundiya kaluva (Cerberus rynchops rynchops Schneider, 1799)

Species: Rainbow Mud Snake/Dedunu Diyabriya (Enhydris enhydris Schneder 1799)

Species: Glossy Marsh Snake/Prevostge diyabariya (Gerarda prevostianus Eydoux & Gervais, 1837)

Family: Natricidae

Species: Buff-striped Keelback/Aharakukka (Amphiesma stolatum Linnaeus 1758)

Species: Boie's Roughside/Lemadilla (Aspidura brachyorrhos Boie, 1827)

Species: Cope's Roughside/Kalumadilla (Aspidura copei Gunther 1864)

Species: Deraniyagala's Roughside/Kandumadilla (Aspidura deraniyagalae Gans & Fetcho, 1982)

Species: Drummondhay's Roughside/Ketivalmadilla (Aspidura drummondhayi Boulenger, 1904)

Species: Gunther's Roughside/Kudamadilla (Aspidura guentheri Ferguson 1876)

Species: Common Roughside/Dalavamadilla (Aspidura trachyprocta Cope, 1860)

Species: Olive Keelback/Diyavarna/Kadola(Atretium schistosum Daudin, 1803)

Species: Blossom krait/Nihaluva/Mal karavala (Balanophis ceylonensis Gunther 1858)

Species: Green Keelback/Green Cobra/Palabariya (Macropisthodon plumbicolor Cantor 1839)

Species: Sri Lanka Keelback/Diya Naya/Diya Bariya (Xenochrophis asperrimus Boulenger, 1891)

Species: Checkered  Keelback/Diya Naya/Diya Bariya (Xenochrophis sp. Vogel & David, 2006)

Family: Pythonidae (Pythons)

Species: Indian Rock Python/Pimbura (Python molurus molurus Linnaeus, 1758)

Family: Typhlopidae (Worm Snakes)

Species: Common/Russel's Blind Snake/Brahmny worm snake/Dumutu kanaulla (Ramphotyphlops braminus Daudin, 1803)

Species: Smith's Blind Snake/Ceylon Worm Snake/Smithge Kanaulla (Typhlops ceylonicus Smith, 1943)

Species: Lanka  Blind/Worm Snake/Lak Kanaulla (Typhlops lankaensis Taylor, 1947)

Species: Pied Worm/Blind Snake/Kabara Kanaulla (Typhlops leucomelas Boulenger, 1890)

Species: Malcolm's  Blind/Worm Snake/Malcomge Kanaulla (Typhlops malcolmi Taylor, 1947)

Species: Jan's  Blind/Worm Snake/Heen Kanaulla (Typhlops mirus Jan & sordelli, 1860)

Species: Stoliczka's Blind Snake/Slender Worm Snake/Stoliczkasge Heen Kanaulla (Typhlops porrectus Stoliczka, 1871)

Species: Taylor's Blind Snake/Taylorge Kanaulla (Typhlos tenebrarum Taylor 1947)

Species: Veddha's Blind/Worm Snake Veddage Kanaulla (Typhlops veddae Taylor, 1947)

Species: Violet Blind/Worm Snake/Dam kanaulla (Typhlops violaceus Taylor, 1947)

Family: Uropeltidae (Sheildtails)

Species: Madurai sheildtails/Madurashi Bimulla (Platyplectrurus madurensis Beddome, 1877)

Species: Large Shield Tail/Maha Bimulla (Pseudotyphlops philippinus Muller 1832)

Species: Blyth's Shield Tail?Gomara Thudulla (Rhinophis blythii Kellart 1853)

Species: Orange Shield Tail/Thambapanni Walga Abaya (Rhinophis dorsimaculatus Deraniyagala, 1941)

Species: Drummondhay's Shield Tail/Thapo Thudulla (Rhinophis drummondhayi Wall, 1921)

Species: Erangaviraj's Sheildtail/Eranga Virajge Thudulla (Rhinophis erangaviraji Wikramasinghe et.al. 2009)

Species: Hemprich's Sheildtail/Depath Thudulla (Rhinophis homolepis Hemprich, 1820)

Species: Schneider's Sheildtail/Ul Thudulla (Rhinophis oxyrynchus Schneider, 1801)

Species: Cuvier's Sheildtail/Cuvierge Walga Abaya (Rhinophis philippinus Cuvier, 1829)

Species: Willey's Sheildtail/Dig Thudulla (Rhinophis porrectus Wall, 1921)

Species: Muller's Sheildtail/Thit Thudulla (Rhinophis punctatus Muller, 1832)

Species: Deraniyagala's Shield Tail/Deraniyagalage Walga Abaya (Rhinophis tricoloratus Deraniyagala, 1975)

Species: Gray's Shield Tail/Earth Snake/Kalu Wakatulla (Uropeltis melanogaster Gray, 1858)

Species: Phillips's Shield Tail/Earth Snake/Iri Wakatulla (Uropeltis phillipsi Nicholls, 1929)

Species: Sourthern Earth Snake/Ruhunu Wakatulla (Uropeltis ruhunae Deraniyagala, 1954)

Family: Viperidae (Vipers)

Species: Indian Russell's Viper/Tit Polonga/Daara Polanga (Daboia russelii russelii Shaw & Nodder, 1797)

Species: South Indian Saw-scale Viper/Vali Polonga (Echis carinatus carinatus Schneider, 1801)

Species: Merrem's Hump-nosed Pit Viper/Polontelissa/Kunakatuwa (Hypnale hypnale Merrem, 1820)

Species: Highland Hump-nosed Pit Viper/Kandukara Mukalan telissa (Hypnale nepa Laurenti, 1768)

Species: Lowland Hump-nosed Pit Viper/Pahatharata Mukalantelissa (Hypnale zara Gray, 1849)

Species: Amal's Hump-nosed Pit Viper/Amalge Thelissa (Hypnale spp 'amal' maduwage et.al. 2009)

Species: Green  Pit Viper/Pala Polonga (Trimeresurus trigonocephalus Sonnini & Latreille, 1801)

Family: Elapidae (Kraits)

Sub Family: (Hydrophiidae (Sea Snakes)

Species: Stoke's  Sea Snake (Astrotia stokesii Gray & Stokes, 1846)

Species: Hook Nosed/Beak  Sea Snake (Enhydrina schistosus Daudin 1803)

Species: Peter's Sea Snake (Hydrophis bituberculatus Peters, 1872)

Species: Chitul/Annulated or Blue banded sea snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus Daudin, 1803)

Species: Small-headed Sea Snake (Hydrophis gracilis Shaw, 1802)

Species: Persian Gulf Sea Snake (Hydrophis lapemoides Gray, 1849)

Species: Bombay Gulf/broad-banded sea snake (Hydrophis mamillaris Daudin, 1803)

Species: Gray's/Ornate Sea Snake (Hydrophis ornatus ornatus Gray, 1842)

Species: Narrow-Banded/Yelloe Sea Snake (Hydrophis spiralis Shaw, 1802)

Species: Gunther's/Collared/Narrow-necked Sea Snake (Hydrophis stricticollis Gunther, 1864)

Species: Jerdon's Sea Snake (Kerilia jerdonii jerdonii Gray, 1849)

Species: Shaw's/Short Sea Snake (Lapemis curtus Shaw, 1802)

Species: Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (Pelamis platura Linnaeus, 1766)

Species: Viperine Sea Snake/Sea Viper (Praescutata viperina Schmidt, 1852)

Sub Family: Laticaudinae

Species: Yellow-lipped Sea Krait (Laticauda colubrina Schneider, 1799)

Endemic

Endangered

Critically Endangered

Vulnurable

Near threatened

Data Deficient References & Literature cited:  Das, I & Anslem de Silva. 2005. Photographic guide to snakes and other reptiles of Sri Lanka. New Holland Publishers, UK ltd. de Silva, Anslem & Jinasena Jayantha 2009. Snakes of Sri Lanka A coloured atlas (with accounts on snakes in Archaeology, History, Folklore, Venomous Snakes and Snakebite). Vijitha Yapa publications Colombo.de Silva, Anslem. 2006. Current status of the reptiles of Sri Lanka IN: Bambaradeniya, C.N.B. (Editor), Fauna of Sri Lanka: Status of taxonomy, research and conservation.  IUCN, Sri lanka 134-163 pp.de Silva, P.H.D.H 1980. Snake Fauna of Sri Lanka with special reference to skull, dentition and venom in snakes. National Museums of Sri Lanka Colombo. Deraniyagala, P.E.P. 1955. A Colored atlas of some vertebrates from Ceylon. Serpentoid Reptilia. Ceylon national Museums, Colombo Gernot, Vogel  & David,  Patrick 2006. On the taxonomy of the Xenochrophis piscator complex (Serpentes, Natricidae). Proceedings of the 13th Congress of the Societas Europaea Herpetologica. pp. 241-246. IUCN Sri Lanka & the Ministry of Environmental and Natural Resources. 2007. The 2007 Red List of Threatened Fauna and Flora of Sri Lanka. Colombo. Maduwage Kalana, Silva, A., Manamendra-Arachchi, K.& Pethiyagoda, R. 2009 A taxonomic revision of the South Asian hump-nosed pit vipers (Squamata: Viperidae: Hypnale) Zootaxa 2232: 1–28 pp. Manamendra-Arachchi, K. & Pethiyagoda, R. 2007 Boiga ranawanei, a junior synonym of Boiga beddomei. Zeylanica Vol 7 No 1 123-124pp. Rooijen, Johan van, Vogel, Gernot 2008 An investigation into the taxonomy of Dendrelaphis tristis (Daudin, 1803): revalidation of Dipsas schokari (Kuhl, 1820) (Serpentes, Colubridae). Contributions to Zoology, 77 (1) 33-43. Smith, E.N., Manamendra-Arachchi, K. &  & Soaweera R. 2008 A new species of coralsnake of the genus Calliophis (Squamata: Elapidae) from the Central Province of Sri Lanka Zootaxa 1847: 19–33 pp. Samarawickrama, V. A. M. P. K. ,Samarawickrama, V. A. P.,Wijesena, N. M. & Orlov, Nikolai L.  2005 New Species of Genus Boiga (Serpentes: Colubridae: Colubrinae) From Sri Lanka. Russian Journal of Herpetology Vol. 12, No. 3, 2005, pp. 213 – 222. Wall, Frank. 1921. Ophidia Taprobanica or Snakes of Ceylon, H.R. Cottle, Govt. Printer Colombo. Wickramasinghe L.J.M., Vidanapathirana D.R. Wickramasinghe, N., Ranwella N. 2009 A new species of Rhinophis Hemprich, 1820 (Reptilia: Serpentes: Uropeltidae) from Rakwana massif, Sri Lanka Zootaxa 2044: 1–22. http://www.srilankanreptiles.com/Downloads/snakes_of_sri_lanka.pdf