Report on Some Remarkable Specimens with Unusual Color Morph Recorded from Two Species of Snakes (Reptilia: Serpentes) from Gujarat, India

Raju Vyas

Abstract


The report is about abnormal individuals of Lycodon aulicus and Bungarus caeruleus exhibiting variation from the «typical morphs» of their respective species. First report about partial albinism observed in Bungarus caeruleus, which is a rare phenomenon in the species. All the specimens were found from the urban centers of Gujarat State, western India.

Keywords


morph; aberration; variation; phenotypic plasticity; polymorphism; snake

Full Text:

PDF

References


Daniel J. C. (2002), The Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians, Bombay Natural History Society – Oxford Univ. Press, Mumbai.

Das I. (2002), A Photographic Guide to Snakes and other Reptiles of India, New Holland publications, London.

Dravidamani S., Kannan P., Kalaiarasan V., Deepika R., Gitanjali J., Moss J. R., and Rajan S. (2006), «Studies on the size composition and morphometry of common krait Bungarus caeruleus (Schneider, 1801) at the Irula Snake Catchers’ Industrial Cooperative Society, Vadanemmeli, Kanchipuram District», Tamil Nadu. Cobra, 64, 1 – 7.

Ganesh S. R. and Chandramouli S. R. (2011), «Report of some noteworthy specimens and species of herpetofauna from south-east India», Taprobanica, 3(1), 5 – 10.

Gayen N. C. (1999), «A synopsis of the reptiles of Gujarat, western India», Hamadryad, 24(1), 1 – 22.

Kuch U. (1991), «Abnormal colouration in the banded krait Bungarus fasciatus (Schneider, 1801)», The Snake, 23, 25 – 28.

Roy C. (2009), A Rare Treat, http://indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=129071

Schleich H. H. and Kastle W. (2002), Amphibians and Reptiles of Nepal Biology. Systematic Field Guide, A. R. G. Gantner Verlag Kommanditgesellschaft, FL 9491, Ruggell, Germany,

Sharma R. C. (2000), «Reptilia», in: State Fauna Series 8: Fauna of Gujarat. Part I, Zoological Survey of India, pp. 243 – 297.

Smith M. A. (1943), The Fauna of British India, Ceylon, and Burma, Including the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. III. Serpentes, Taylor and Francis, London.

Vogel G. and Chanhome L. (2006), «On two remarkable colour variants in Boiga dendrophila melanota (Boulenger, 1896) (Serpentes: Colubridae)», Hamadryad, 30(1 – 2), 199 – 203.

Vyas R. (1996), «An identification key and checklist of snakes of Gujarat state, India», J. Anim. Morphol. Physiol., 43(2), 183 – 190.

Vyas R. (2009), «Discussion on the snake fauna of Gujarat State, with some notable records», J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 205(3), 334 – 347.

Vyas R. and Desai S. R. (2010), «The record of Beddome’s cat snake Boiga beddomei from Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat State, India», Reptile Rap, 10, 10 – 13.

Vyas R., Patel V. V., and Thakur M. N. (2011), «Records of Slender Racer Coluber gracilis (Gunther, 1862) from Gujarat State with notes on its distribution», Sauria, 33(2), 51 – 56.

Whitaker R. (1969), «Abnormal colouration in the Banded Krait (Bungarus fasciatus)», J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 66(1), 184 – 185.

Whitaker R. and Captain A. (2004), Snakes of India. The Field Guide, Draco Books, Chennai.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2014-21-1-47-52

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.



You can subscribe to the print or electronic version of the journal on the site of EastView Company. If you have any questions, please write to the email sales@ivis.ru