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seasnakes. They feed on fish, some species living exclusively on eels.
Ofthe 12 species likely to occur off the coasts of
Maharashtra,Enhydrinaschistosa, Hydrophis spiralis. H. cyanocinctus, H.
mamillaris, H. caeru-lescens, Lapemis curtus, Microcephalophis
gracilisandPelamis phaturushave been collected from around Bombay
Island.
The Vipers, Family Viperidae, are widely distributed being absentonly
in the Australian Region and to its east. The poison fangs reach their
highest development in Vipers, being so large that they liehorizontally
when the mouth is closed and are erected by movementsof the jaw bones
when the mouth is open and the snake is ready tostrike. Two sub-families
are recognised, Viperinae (True Vipers) andCrotalinae (Pit Vipers)
distinguished by the presence of a sensory pitbetween the eye and the
nostril. Both subfamilies are represented inMaharashtra, Viperinae by the
generaViperaandEchisand CrotalinaebyTrimeresurus.
The Russell's Viper,Vipera russelli,(Marathi Ghonus), a thick
set,sluggish viper grows up to 1.5 metres in length. The colour pattern
isdistinctive being brown with three series of large rounded or oval
blackand white margined spots. Widely distributed it occurs in all types
ofcountry. Feeds mainly on rats and mice. Viviparous 20 to over60 young
being born at a time. The poison acts mainly on the bloodand the
vasomotor centre.
The Phoorsa,Echis carinata,pale brown, greyish or sandy witha
vertebral series of pale dark edged spots, hardly exceeds 60 cm. inlength.
Widely distributed it is more common in dry areas. Extremelyabundant in
Ratnagiri District, over a lakh being collected withina period of a week in
1890. An aggressive snake when excited it hasthe habit of rubbing the
sides of its body against each other, forminga characteristic figure of eight
in the process and producing a hissingor rasping sound. Recorded as
ovoviviparous in India. The poisonacts, like Ghonus poison, mainly on the
blood and on the vasomotorcentre. Feeds on arachnids and other
arthropods, small mammals,reptiles and amphibians.
FAUNA 639