Ophidian Diversity in Tumkur District, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Snakes are the most diverse successful group of animals belonging to the Class Reptilia, which are completely dependent upon the natural environment for their sustenance. They are highly significant as they are an important part of food chain and food webs of almost all the ecosystems, due to which their presence and absence depicts the status of their ecosystem. These crawlers are predators on rodents and insects which are harmful in agricultural fields, due to which they are considered to be the farmer’s friend. Also, snakes play a vital role in controlling the population of harmful rodents which functions as vectors of deadly diseases. Such beneficial species are at the verge of threat which may even lead towards their local extinction. The major threats to these limbless reptiles are as far identified as, the habitat loss, accidents such as road kills and also being slayed when sighted in residential areas. This is mainly due to the lack of adequate knowledge about their status and their significance. Hence the conservation of the herpetofauna at the region is very much needed. Therefore, this study is carried out by obtaining the data from interaction with the local farmers ’and volunteers from snake rescue teams. The study resulted in 29 snake species belonging to 9 different families. Out of which 21 non-venomous, 03 semi-venomous and 05 venomous species were recorded. This study provides the primary information about the Ophidian diversity to educate and bring in awareness among the people and further leading to put up strategies for their natural conservation. Whether these species is medically significant to humans needs further study.