Snakes in Sri Lanka : They have the same right to live on this earth 😊

There are very few people in this world who love snakes. Even I am not someone who loves snakes, those animals own this world too. So Let's go... This is all about snakes in Sri Lanka.

source

Though there are 103 snake species have been reported in Sri Lanka Only about 30 percent can be harmed. Snake bite is a common occupational hazards in Sri Lanka and most number of deaths are from the bite of the Russell's viper, Cobra and Krait.

Venomous Vs Non- venomous

We can easily identify Venomous and Non-venomous snakes, by the shape of their scales.
Venomous snakes have large hexagonal scales along the mid dorsal.

Non-Venomous snakes have small scales all over their body.

Highly Venoumus snakes in Sri Lanka.

•Cobra

cobra

Cobra is the only hooded snake in Sri Lanka and when they agitate raises the front of the body and spreads it's hood making a hissing noise. The hood carrying a spectacles shaped marking on it's upper surfaces. I have read and so many stories about Cobras and have non fading curiosity on them. They live dry intermediate and wet zones in Sri Lanka. Produce neurotoxins that can affect the nervous system.

• Ceylon kriat (Mudu Karawala)

Deadly venomous snake with glossy black body. They distributed in wet and dry zone and active during night time. Produce neurotoxins.

• Indian Kriat ( Thel Karawala)

Indian kriat

Deadly venomous snake with Glossy black body and distributed in dry and intermediate zones. Those who sleep on the floor in the night become victims. That's why we call them as Nidi Karawala. They produce neurotoxins and bite side only have a mild pain and mild swelling. So those who become victims, can die while they are sleeping.

Cobra, Ceylon krait and Indian Krait have the same feature, they have white cross bands across their bodies.

• Russell's viper

Russell's viper

Deadly venomous and have 3 longitudinal rows of circular or oval shaped dark markings on dorsal side. Distributed all over the country and it's a very aggressive snake. They produce highly venomous toxins that can lead to bleeding manifestations renal failure and affect nervous system too.

• Saw Scaled viper

Highly venomous snake with dark brown body. There is a bird's foot marking on the head. Confined to northern and southern areas of the country.

Moderately Venomous Snakes

• Green pit viper

Green pit viper

Green color body with irregular black markings. Active during day and night and widely distributed in the country.

Mildly Poisonous Snakes

• Cat snake (Mapila)

Triangular head with laterally compressed body.

Non poisonous snakes

• Rat snake

Rat snake

We often meet these snakes in our home gardens. We are not really harmed by them. They are innocent. That's why we say like" It is not good to fill sins by killing rat snakes".

Instead of killing them, we can do the following to protect ourselves from them.
• Frequently clean the storage places in and around houses.
• Use a long pole to clear piles of waste.
• Use a powerful torch when walking at night
• Carry a long stick to tap the ground ahead.
• Wear protective shoes.

Although some of the snakes are deadly poisonous, they have the right to live in this world. They preserve the environmental equilibrium and biodiversity. So we have the responsibility of protecting ourselves. I hope you will learn something my article.
Thank you so much for reading.

@steemcurator01 and @steemcurator02 thank you for the continuous support.
Thank you for reading and I am happy to see your experiences with snakes in the comment section.