Russell's Viper  घोनस ( Daboia russelii )

Regional Names: 

English: Russells

 Viper.

Hindi: 

Parran, Kaudia, Chitti.

Marathi: 

Ghonas, Pharud.

Distribution: 

 Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala, Karnataka, Distrubuted in all western ghats. Madhya pradesh, Gujrat, Odisa, Rajasthan. Also found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Venom Type: 

Haemotoxic

Family: 

Viperidae

Characteristics for identification: 

This species can be identified easily by robust and stout body covered with keeled scales. In three rows eye or almond like spots found in whole dorsal body. This character helps people to differentiate between Russell's Viper and non-venomous Indian Rock Python which is found in the same range. It can be easily identified by checking oval shaped hollow or solid spots in three rows in dorsal body and highly keeled non-shiny scales. 

Description: 

New born- 24cm.
Average length- 100cm (3.3ft).
Maximum length- 180cm (6ft).

Dorsal -

Body stout, robust and covered with highly keeled pointed and dry looking scales. Dorsal light or dark grayish-brown, reddish, orange or entirely gray occasionally. Color and patterns become faint in adults or sometimes adults fund to be completely patternless. Continuous or discontinuous eye or almond like hollow or solid spots of dark brown or blackish color present in three longitudinal rows along the body; starts from head and generally become faint or absent on tail side. Side spots smaller and more rounded than spots present on the top and generally discontinuous.

Ventral -
Belly white or light yellow with deep dark brown or blackish semi lunar spots on the edge of most of ventral scales. Underside of tail usually darker (brown or deep yellow) than ventral scales with paired subcaudals.

Head -
Head triangular, pointed with small keeled scales; clearly broader than neck. Two triangular shaped spots of rounded edge present on the top. Upper lip pinkish white mostly. Supra nasal crescentic with large nostril. Moderate eyes have vertically elliptical pupil. Two very long fangs present in front side of mouth from birth.

Tail -
Rather small tail with pointed tip and covered with typical keeled scales; usually without patterns.

Habitat: 

Found both in plains and moderate elevation up to approximately 4800ft; more common in plains. Distributed in variety of forests including rainforest, mixed, dry, moist deciduous forest, scrub lands, grassland, wetland etc. Habitat includes dry open lands, agricultural fields, open country, scrubs having low bushes, rocky terrain having mounds & vegetation etc. Hides in mounds, holes, piles, caves, cracks, dense leaf litters, dense vegetation etc

Diet: 

Feeds chiefly on rodents and small mammals; also feeds on birds, lizards, frogs.

Photographs and Info:
Pho:Rushikesh lohar,
Info: Sagar khunte and Akash deshmukh.

Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell%27s_viper