The Reptile Fauna of India

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Written with the avowed objective of sustaining the newly generated interest among Indians about their rich heritage of reptiles, bulk of the book deals with one hundred species of common forms of reptiles found in the plains, forests mountains, lakes, rivers, seas, Islands and the desert of the Republic of India. The descriptive accounts of species pinpoint the distinguishing characteristics, habits, colouration, size and geographical range. The text also provides the common names and veranacular names wherever available. Additional information is given through different chapters that deal with the classification, reptilian biodiversity, economic importance and conservation, historical review and the keys to the identification of the common species. An extensive bibliography is also added. Photographs in black and white enable the user to identify a specimen quickly, and the concise organization and detailed index ensure ready access to all information.

Written with the avowed objective of sustaining the newly generated interest among Indians about their rich heritage of reptiles, bulk of the book deals with one hundred species of common forms of reptiles found in the plains, forests mountains, lakes, rivers, seas, Islands and the desert of the Republic of India. The descriptive accounts of species pinpoint the distinguishing characteristics, habits, colouration, size and geographical range. The text also provides the common names and veranacular names wherever available. Additional information is given through different chapters that deal with the classification, reptilian biodiversity, economic importance and conservation, historical review and the keys to the identification of the common species. An extensive bibliography is also added. Photographs in black and white enable the user to identify a specimen quickly, and the concise organization and detailed index ensure ready access to all information.

The Republic of India is home to a breath-takingly wide range of about 500 species of reptiles found between the hot, dry open plains in the west and the tropical rainforests of the east, between the snow clad peaks of the Himalayas in the north and between the ocean washed islands and the land's end in the south. However, such a vast wealth of the country's reptile fauna has been paid attention only during the last three decades of the twentieth century, resulting in the publication of a few works notably by Daniel (1983), Das (1991,1995), Murthy (1986, 1994). Sharma (1998), Tikader and Sharma (1985, 1992), and Whitaker (1978). Yet, we have Indian critics lamenting on the non-availability of suitable books on the subject for the young adult readers. The present book is written with the avowed objective of sustaining the newly created interest among the youngsters. lay public, amateurs and students like about their rich heritage of reptiles.

The information, given in the book, is presented in a simple and easy-to understand style. The descriptive accounts are supplemented with as many illustrations as possible. Written with the young adult in mind, the descriptions of species rely heavily on their general appearance, colouration and natural history. Additional information is provided through different chapters that deal with the classification (with an updated checklist), reptilian biodiversity, importance and protection of reptiles, historical review and the keys to the identification of common reptiles. The extesive bibliography is compiled with emphasis on citations, which include both the technical and semi-scientific or popular articles, needed to be consulted by a beginner. Using the text, illustrations and the keys, even a layman will be able to identify a majority of the common reptiles discussed..

Designed as a book which can be used in the field as well as in the laboratory or classroom, it is hoped that the volume will stimulate the interest of amateurs, lay public and students alike since the very survival of reptiles will largely depend on how the public in general from a view of these fascinating and useful animal populations of India.

I am extremely pleased to write a Foreword on the book entitled "Common Reptiles of India" by Dr. T.S.N. Murthy, formerly Scientist SE of the Zoological Survey of India. This monograph has been written as a source book which was sponsored by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India and is to be published for the Society for conservation and management of natural resources, Hyderabad. I have known Dr. Murthy's great love reptiles even before my joining the ZSI as its Director in 1989. But when I came in contact with him. I was struck by his sincerity, hard work and meticulous ways in which he used to carry out his research, in depth and details. I always considered the reptiles and amphibians as the transitory groups that had lead from the fishes to evolve into so-called higher vertebrates, i.e., birds and mammals. This may be one of the reason that the species of these two groups are very limited and their endemicity is also very pronounced. Everybody hates snakes but there are few, like Dr. Murthy who love them for their wonderful structures, beautiful bodies and the strange ways of their life. Same is the case with frogs, toads, crocodiles, turtles, tortoises, lizards, etc. Because of the advent of human civilization and the extensive loss and damage to the ecosystems, the species of these groups are literally on the run and many have already become extinct and can be studied only in books and old literature. It should be our resolve to preserve them for posterity, not only for their survival but also for our survival on this only living planet, i.e., earth.

I must congratulate Dr. Murthy on this excellent presentation and I am sure that when published it will be a valuable document on the Reptiles of India.

Reptiles are the first vertebrates to break their link with water and become truly adapted to a life on land. They have evolved from the amphibians and in turn, they have given rise to the birds and mammals. Unlike amphibians, reptiles lay eggs on land and do not go through the aquatic larval phase but hatch out as miniature versions of the adults, though differing in colour and pattern. The most striking character of reptiles is their scaly skin which prevents them from drying out.

Fossil evidence suggests that the reptiles have originated some 300 million years ago during the Pennsylvanian period of the earth's history and attained the peak of glory during the Mesozoic era which was appropriately called the 'Golden age of reptiles as it was during this period the giant dinosaurs ruled the earth. The present day reptiles, which appeared during the Tertiary period, are but a fraction of the giant reptiles of the past. Reptiles occupy the middle position among the four major groups of land-living vertebrates ie., Amphibia, Reptilia, Birds, and Mammals.

The following are chief features of reptiles in general, with special reference to the species occurring in India; other, and more distinguishing features are discussed groupwise in the second chapter.

A typical reptile is lizard-like in shape, with three main parts-the head, trunk, and tail constituting the body. Reptiles are poikilothermic animals, that is their body temperature is not constant and varies with the surroundings. In fact, the blood of a reptile is neither cold nor a reptile is wet to touch as it is erroneously believed. If the weather is cold reptiles become less active and feed very little. But they become active when the weather gets warmer, feeding, growing and reproducing. They avoid the severe cold by hibernation and the dry hot weather by aestivation. A vast majority are carnivorous, insects constituting their principal food. Sexes are separate but are not easily distinguishable. Most reptiles lay hard-shelled eggs which are usually buried in pits in the soil for incubation but a few species produce living young. Reptiles seldom bite people unless they are provoked. They bite only to protect themselves, or in a few cases to protect their young or their eggs.

Reptiles are found in nearly all parts of the world, except the very cold regions. There are more than 6,000 species in all. All the three living orders of reptiles have their representatives in India: the Order Crocodylia containing the crocodiles and gharials with 3 species, the Order Testudines (turtles and tortoises) with 31 species, and the Order Squamata (lizards and snakes) with 191 species of lizards, and 264 species of snakes.

**Contents and Sample Pages**