Venomous Snakes In Pakistan

[Vapnope]

Disclaimer: This thread has nothing to do with Human snakes and is only about venomous snakes found in Pakistan. I have used the research material available in open domain and made collage of snakes for identification Purpose.


Snake's hypnotic eyes and implacable mouth invokes mystery, fascination, horror and have inspired myths, religions, cults, literature and legends since ancient times. While the snakes have always been part of subcontinent folklore, legends and scripture however the first known documented work was made by a Belgian British George Albert Boulenger in 1890, the work was known as “The Fauna of British India”. The book is the first work which presented the known herpetofauna of the subcontinent in a volume. Its part dealing with snakes contributed to the proper understanding of the different species, their ways and life style. Publication of this work instigated general interest in ophidian study. Malcolm Arthur Smith (1943) revised Boulenger's work to encompass species since described, included new data about the distribution of several species, correcting several old records. Moreover, it included data on habits, ecology and reproduction of almost all known species.
Several works have been since done on snakes in Pakistan (Minton, 1962, 1966; Mertens, 1969, 1970).

The most recent and comprehensive work since then has been done by Muhammad Sharif Khan, an internationally acclaimed Pakistani herpetologist. His work is known as “A GUIDE TO THE SNAKES OF PAKISTAN” and is available at academia.
(https://www.wildlife.org.pk/muhammad-sharif-khan/)


There are 97 species of terrestrial snakes found in Pakistan and 16 are Pakistani endemics. I will focus on the venomous snakes found in Pakistan only.
The venomous snakes of Pakistan belong to 4 families of snakes, namely,

1. Elapidae (Kraits and Cobras)
2. Viperidae (Vipers)
3. Hydrophiidae (Sea Snakes)
4. Crotalidae (Himalayan Pit Viper)

1. Elapidae

a. Kraits​

Kraits are represented by 3 species in Pakistan.​

1. Common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus)
2. Sindhi Krait (Bungarus sindanus)
3. Northern Punjab Krait (Bangarus sindanus razai)

Distribution Map

Bungarus caeruleus (●)
Bungarus sindanus (o)
Bungarus sindanus razai (x)

b. Cobras
Genus Naja is represented in Pakistan by two species and one subspecies:

1. Spectacled or Indian Cobra (Naja Naja)
2. Oxus or Brown Cobra (Naja Oxiana)
3. Black Pakistan Cobra (Naja naja karachiensis)

Distribution Map

Naja naja ( )
Naja oxiana (o)


2. Viperidae (Vipers)

This family is represented in Pakistan by five genera and seven species and subspecies.
1. Russell's or Chain Viper (Daboia russelii)
2. Saw-scaled Viper (Echis carinatus)
3. Sochurek's or Eastern Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus sochureki)
4. Multiscale or Transcaspian Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus multisquamatus)
5. Astola Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus astolae)
6. Macmahon's or Leaf Nosed Viper (Eristicophis macmahonii)
7. Persian Horned Viper (Pseudocerastes persicus)
8. Levantine Viper or Mountain Adder (Macrovipera lebetina)

Distribution Map

Echis c. sochureki ( )
Echis c. astole (o)
Echis c. multisquamatus (

)

3. Hydrophiidae (Sea Snakes)

There are around 55 species of sea snakes which are found in the seas of the world but in the coastal waters of Pakistan, only 14 species have so far been recorded.

1. Stokes' sea snake (Astrotia stokesii)
2. Beaked sea snake, hook-nosed sea snake, common sea snake or Valakadyn sea snake (Enhydrina schistose)
3. Dwarf seasnake or many-toothed sea snake (Hydrophis caerulescens)
4. Annulated sea snake or blue-banded sea snake (Hydrophis cyanocinctus)
5. Striped sea snake (Hydrophis fasciatus)
6. Persian Gulf sea snake (Hydrophis lapemoides)
7. Bombay sea snake (Hydrophis mamillaris)
8. Ornate reef seasnake (Hydrophis ornatus)
9. Yellow Sea snake (Hydrophis spiralis)
10. Shaw's sea snake (Lapemis curtus)
11. Cantor's small-headed sea snake (Microcephalophis cantoris)
12. Graceful small-headed sea snake or slender sea snake (Microcephalophis gracilis)
13. Yellow-bellied sea snake or pelagic sea snake (Pelamis platurus)
14. Viperine sea snake (Praescutata viperina)

4. Crotalidae (Himalayan Pit Viper)
Pit vipers are represented by a single species in Pakistan, belonging to the genus Gloydius:

1. Himalayan Pit Viper (Gloydius himlayanus)

Distribution Map

Gloydius himalayanus (O)


Unfortunately there are no official conservation schemes in Pakistan for these majestic creatures and nothing is being done by WWF Pakistan as well. Due to intrinsic fear of snakes and unawareness, people tend to kill snakes which sometimes dangerously affects the ecosystem.


Sources:
1 - http://www.wildlifeofpakistan.com/ReptilesofPakistan/venomousseasnakesofPakistan.htm
2 - http://www.wildlifeofpakistan.com/ReptilesofPakistan/venomousterrestrialsnakesofPakistan.htm
3 - A guide to the snakes of Pakistan by Muhammad Sharif Khan
4 - Marine snakes by Ms. Fahmida Iffat, Marine Biologist - University of Karachi

 

[Arsenal Caan]

I was about write Mian Saanp but then saw the disclaimer

 

[ColonelSanders]

Any info on constrictors and pythons? Army killed a python near Bhimber during an exercise when i was very young. That python was nearly 20ft. Would be nice to know what kind of monsters are found in that area

 

[Vapnope]

@denel @waz @masterchief_mirza @araz @TNT @lastofthepatriots @Goenitz @_NOBODY_ @Hiraa @PurpleButcher @Microsoft @SoulSpokesman @mig25 @LeGenD @Imran Khan @Dr. Strangelove A small effort from my side.

Any info on constrictors and pythons? Army killed a python near Bhimber during an exercise when i was very young. That python was nearly 20ft. Would be nice to know what kind of monsters are found in that area

I plan to write and compile about non venomous snakes in pakistan, in next thread.

 

[ColonelSanders]

@denel @waz @masterchief_mirza @araz @TNT @lastofthepatriots @Goenitz @_NOBODY_ @Hiraa @PurpleButcher @Microsoft @SoulSpokesman @mig25 @LeGenD @Imran Khan @Dr. Strangelove A small effort from my side.

I plan to write and compile about non venomous snakes in pakistan, in next thread.

Tag me please when you do

 

[Raja Porus]

These majestic creatures are unfortunately ( or fortunately) becoming quite rare sights in Punjab.

 

[HAIDER]

I thought you going to post some govt jobs ...like bureaucracy etc ... judges, police and other govt departments etc etc ...and politicians ..

What is " Gidhar singi" ...

 

[denel]

@denel @waz @masterchief_mirza @araz @TNT @lastofthepatriots @Goenitz @_NOBODY_ @Hiraa @PurpleButcher @Microsoft @SoulSpokesman @mig25 @LeGenD @Imran Khan @Dr. Strangelove A small effort from my side.

I plan to write and compile about non venomous snakes in pakistan, in next thread.

please do tag me as well. Looking forward to your contribution. If you can also include what are the present anti-venom, availability and how are snake bite victims handled etc.

Please do consider putting it as a pdf on one of the academic sites as well so that you do get citated for your efforts.

 

[maverick1977]

pls add nawaz, zardari and countless pakistanis who live in pakistan but are like snakes to Pakistan

 

[Vapnope]

What is " kidhar singi" ...

Doesn't exist actually but is a mythical creature which is used by con men allegedly to be used in black magic. You might wanna read this,

Everything You Need To Know About The Legend Behind 'Geedar Singhi'

People with supernatural or quasi-beliefs like these keep Geedar Singhis inside their houses for 'rehmat' and 'barkat'...

www.parhlo.com

 

[Ali_Baba]

When i saw the title, i thought this was a thread about the Zadaris(Bhutto's) and Sharif's and Chaudhries !!!

Lol !!! Who would have thought - a thread about snakes being a real thread about snakes.

 

[jamahir]

These majestic creatures are unfortunately ( or fortunately) becoming quite rare sights in Punjab.

Majestic ? I hate snakes !

 

[Saddam Hussein]

When I clicked on this thread I thought I'd read about pajeets

 

[Eight Pass Charlie]

All will be gone soon enough, it is unlikely the general populace will become educated and cultured enough within our lifetime to appreciate and protect even larger less discriminated against fauna never mind snakes. These animals will have no chance.

Most people in Pakistan don't even believe that snakes without venom even exist

 

[Vapnope]

All will be gone soon enough, it is unlikely the general populace will become educated and cultured enough within our lifetime to appreciate and protect even larger less discriminated against fauna never mind snakes. These animals will have no chance.

Most people in Pakistan don't even believe that snakes without venom even exist

There are some Pakistanis who are doing these awareness efforts on their own. There is a Pakistani facebook page "reptiles of wild" where admins educate people about snakes and i have seen many people who are fast learning about snakes and some even caught and released snakes away from human population instead of killing them. But yeah i agree we need official campaign about it.