Category: Reptile

Snakes

Snakes

Snakes are a huge family, with the msot recent count suggesting there are 4038 species around the world. These are split into 30 families. They are all carnivores and their predatory methods are wide ranging. As well as their adaptions for attack, they also have some effective defences. 

The picture above, shows a spitting cobra. This is a fascinating species, which has developed what amounts to 2 water pistols in its mouth, which it fills with venom and shoots at animals eyes. While its venom could cause problems or death if  injected, it is not set up to inject venom. The problem with many snakes defences, is that if you have got close enough to inject your venom you may kill the animal, but it is also likely to kill or injure you. The spitting cobra deals with this, by spitting at the threat from a distance. Not only is it incredibly painful if the venom goes in your eyes, but if it is not washed out rapidly, you are likely to loose your eyesight. We have been lucky enough to encounter spitting cobras twice. The first time, it was in a stables, and was being killed for the safety of the horses. However, the above photo comes from the second encounter, which occurred on our last trip into the Kruger national park.

In the first place, I am not going to try to list all species around the world (should this website make significant progress, I may do this in the future, but not for now) but instead to list some of the most fascinating. 

These are likely to be continually added to. If there is a specific species that interests you do fill in a species page, and help expand this list

Squamata - Snakes and Lizards 12162 Species This is the Mozambique spitting cobra
Adder
black mamba
boomslang

Muggar Crocodile

Muggar Crocodile

Found in fresh water, across India and as far away as Iran, as well as small parts of its range extending into various neighbouring countries including Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

As to be expected, its closest relations are the other Asiatic and Australasian Crocodile species.

Its greatest threat is habitat loss and is listed as CITES appendix i. In 2013 the wild population was estimated at 8700, with no single population being over 1000. Between 1970 and 1990 over 1000 were bred in captivity and released into 28 protected areas, however this program was shut down by the government.

 

False Gharial

False Gharial

False Gharial

The false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii), also known by the names Malayan gharial, Sunda gharial and tomistoma is a freshwater crocodilian of the family Gavialidae native to Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra and Java. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, as the global population is estimated at around 2,500 to 10,000 mature individuals.

Perhaps what is clear from this is the need to know the population more accurately, as there is a big difference between 2500 and 10000. Having said this, what is clear is that this is a crocodillian that is in a much safer position than many of its cousins.

While rare, there have been 3 fatal attacks on humans since 2000. While before this there were no documented cases, this may be down to record keeping rather than actual facts.

It is considered appendix i and its distribution is very broken which can be a great threat to a species. What will happen in the future is still unclear.

Gharial

Gharial

Gharial

Also know as the Gavial or fish-eating crocodile, and is one of the longest crocodilians with females 2.6-4.5m and males 3-6m long. It currently lives in rivers in the northern half of India, and is one of the most aquatic crocodilian, only leaving water to lay eggs and to sunbathe.

Rapid declines in 1930 have left them occupying only 2% of their former range, with a captive breeding program having run since the 1980s to reintroduce them to their former range. It has been listed as critically endangered since 2007.

The global population in 2007 (last full survey) was 900. Much work is going on with reintroduction projects in India, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Osborn Dwarf Crocodile

Osborn dwarf crocodile (Congo Dwarf Crocodile) Photo credit marius Burger CC0

Osborn Dwarf Crocodile

Endemic only to the Congo basin in Africa, it was originally described as a separate species in 1948. In 1961, it was downgraded to subspecies level and just 2 years ago it was found to be distinct enough to be full separate species.

They are on CITES appendix 1, but little is known about their status.

Below is a short video on this and the other dwarf crocodile

African Dwarf crocodile

African dwarf crocodile

The dwarf crocodile (also known as the African dwarf crocodile, broad-snouted crocodile -a name more often used for the Asian mugger crocodile) or bony crocodile), is an African crocodile that is also the smallest living species of crocodile.

Found in lowlands to mid-height areas, in small and mid-size streams (they avoid large rivers). Generally, they live in rivers that lie in rainforest, though they will venture into the open.

They are known, in places, to be found in pools deeply isolated in Savannah. In western Gabon, there are also a group which have been living long-term in caves. It is considered vulnerable by the IUCN and is Appendix i of CITES. Where they are declining, it appears largely as a result of deforestation and hunting for the bushmeat trade. As a result, while in some regions they have a healthy population, in others (like Gambia and Liberia) they are almost lost.

In zoos in the USA and Europe there are a few of this species, however, records are not good, and quite a few of them are clearly hybrids with little conservation use. I should note, a zoo I occasionally volunteer at (marwell zoo) had one of these crocodiles until last year when it went to another zoo for breeding.

We hope to be able to list places for you to visit to see this species as soon as possible. Any of these will appear below the video and the news section (this lists all the times that this species has been mentioned (if any) in this blog). Below this, we will list all the easiest places we have connections to, to see this species.

 

Western Slender snouted crocodile

Western slender snouted crocodile Photo credit Thesupermat CC by SA 3.0

Western Slender snouted crocodile

Green is the western slender snouted crocodile range

Similar to the Central slender snouted crocodile (which was only clearly found to be separate in 2018). Like its cousin, it has a very pointed nose, which it uses to eat small fish and invertebrates. Males reach 3m-4m in length, and weigh between 125kg and 325kg.

Generally recognized as data deficient, the numbers are certainly low. When the two slender snouted crocodile species were thought to be one, they were classed as critically endangered, so it is unlikely that either has a more healthy population.

Clearly more information is needed.

They still are found in parts of Ghana,but a recent genetic study in USA zoos found that a number of their slender snouted crocodiles were of this species, giving greater hope. There is an effort to breed them in captivity.

What is clear is that more information is required. I have been unable to find a video of this species, but the central slender snouted crocodile was considered the same species until recently and looks similar, visit that page here

Central African Slender snouted crocodile

Central African Slender snouted crocodile

Before several studies that occurred one in 2014 and the other in 2018, it was thought that there was only one species of slender snouted crocodile – the west African slender snouted crocodile.

Central African slender-snouted crocodile occurs widely in Central Africa (Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, northern Angola, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo) and extends into South Sudan, and Lake Tanganyika in East Africa.

No-one has been able to find out their status, but they are clearly not healthy as a population, and given its habitat is being destroyed, it is likely still reducing.

Below is a short video of one encountered in the wild in Gabon.

West African Crocodile

West African Crocodile

The West African crocodile inhabits much of West and Central Africa, ranging east to South Sudan and Uganda, and south to Democratic Republic of the Congo (in all three countries it may come into contact with Nile crocodiles). Other countries where it is found include Mauritania, Benin, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Gabon, Togo, Ivory Coast and Republic of Congo. Just 100 years ago, museums were still getting specimens from the southern Nile but they appear to be long lost from this part of their range.

Bizarrely, it survives in desert conditions in Mauritana, largely by staying in caves and burrows in the driest periods, and then emerging in rainy periods.

It was only recognized as a separate species in 2010 which has lead to its poor representation in zoos. Having said that, a surprising number of pure members of this species has been found. There are breeding pairs in around 4 uk zoos. A study of 16 so-called Nile crocodiles in 6 USA zoos found all but one were actually west african Crocodiles.

Clearly more work is needed on this species, as well as its captive population.

Siamese Crocodile

Siamese Crocodile

This is a freshwater species found in all kinds of freshwater ways, within its range. It is 2.1-3m as an adult and weighs between 40-120kg.

It is critically endangered, and is considered appedix i of CITES. It is highly endangered in the wild, though there is a healthy captive population. Given, it was considered extinct in the wild back in 1992 so it has improved.

There is currently a not insubstantial population, though it is heavily fragmented across its range. As such, until the population has greatly improved, it is likely to require substantial effort from humans with regular translocations between different places. This way, the whole species can be considered a mega population, and the genetic variability can be kept high, until the population recovers. Poaching is common, where they are put in breeding farms and hybridized with other large crocodile species.

There are various places where good conservation could rapidly change the situation. They are thought to roam Java and Kalimantan, but surveys are essential to work out if this rumour is true or not. if they have held on, these forgotten habitats may prove a safer nursery than elsewhere.

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