List of reptiles of Kerala

This is a list of reptile species found in the Kerala, India.

Order: Crocodilia (crocodilians)

Suborder: Eusuchia

Family: Crocodylidae (crocodiles)

Genus: Crocodylus

Crocodylus porosus (saltwater crocodile / കായൽ മുതല)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Crocodylus palustris (mugger crocodile / മഗ്ഗർ മുതല)

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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Order: Testudines (turtles)

Suborder: Cryptodira

Family: Geoemydidae (pond, river and wood turtles)

Genus: Melanochelys

Melanochelys trijuga (Indian black turtle / കാരാമ)

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  Illustration
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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view

Genus: Vijayachelys

Vijayachelys silvatica (Cochin forest cane turtle / ചൂരലാമ)

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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Front view

Family: Cheloniidae (sea turtles)

Genus: Chelonia

Chelonia mydas (green sea turtle / പച്ചക്കടലാമ)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Front view
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  Hatchling

Genus: Eretmochelys

Eretmochelys imbricata (hawksbill sea turtle / ചുണ്ടൻ കടലാമ)

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  Dorsal view
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  Ventral view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Genus: Lepidochelys

Lepidochelys olivacea (olive ridley sea turtle / ഒലീവ് റിഡ്‌ലി കടലാമ)

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  Lateral view
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  Nesting
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  Hatchling

Family: Dermochelyidae (leatherback turtles)

Genus: Dermochelys

Dermochelys coriacea (leatherback sea turtle / തോൽപ്പുറകൻ കടലാമ)

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  Illustration
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  Lateral view
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  Crawling
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  Hatchling
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  Oesophagus showing spines to retain prey

Family: Testudinidae (tortoises)

Genus: Geochelone

Geochelone elegans (Indian star tortoise / ഇന്ത്യൻ നക്ഷത്ര ആമ)

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  Illustration
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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view

Genus: Indotestudo

Indotestudo travancorica (Travancore tortoise / കാട്ടാമ)

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  Lateral view

Family: Trionychidae (softshell turtles)

Genus: Nilssonia

Nilssonia leithii (Leith's softshell turtle)

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  Head

Genus: Lissemys

Lissemys punctata (Indian flapshell turtle / വെള്ളാമ)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Front view

Genus: Pelochelys

Pelochelys cantorii (Cantor's giant softshell turtle / ഭീമനാമ)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Front view

Genus: Chitra

Chitra indica (Indian narrow-headed softshell turtle / ചിത്രയാമ)

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  Lateral view
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  Skeleton

Order: Squamata (scaled reptiles)

Suborder: Iguania

Family: Agamidae (lizards)

Genus: Calotes

Calotesdd calotes (common green forest lizard / പച്ചയോന്ത്)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Calotes grandisquamis (large-scaled forest lizard / കാട്ടുപച്ചയോന്ത്)

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  Illustration
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  Lateral view
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  Head
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  Head

Calotes nemoricola (Nilgiri forest lizard / നീലഗിരി ഓന്ത്)

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  Lateral view

Calotes versicolor (oriental garden lizard / ഓറിയന്റൽ ഗാർഡൻ ലിസാർഡ്)

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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Head
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  Male in breeding season

Genus: Monilesaurus

Monilesaurus ellioti (Elliot's forest lizard / മുള്ളോന്ത്)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Head
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  Head
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  Female

Monilesaurus rouxii (Roux's forest lizard)

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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Genus: Draco

Draco dussumieri (southern flying lizard / പറയോന്ത്)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Genus: Otocryptis

Otocryptis beddomei (Indian kangaroo lizard / കങ്കാരു ഓന്ത്)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view

Genus: Psammophilus

Psammophilus blanfordanus (Blanford's rock agama / കൂനൻ പാറയോന്ത്)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Head
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  Breeding color

Psammophilus dorsalis (peninsular rock agama / പാറയോന്ത്)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Front view
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  Female

Genus: Salea

Salea anamallayana (Anaimalai spiny lizard / ആനമലയോന്ത്)

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  Illustration
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Salea horsfieldii (Horsfield's spiny lizard / നീലഗിരി മലയോന്ത്)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Genus: Sitana

Sitana ponticeriana (fan-throated lizard / ചങ്കനോന്ത്)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Ventral view
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  Breeding colors

Family: Chamaeleonidae (chameleons)

Genus: Chamaeleo

Chamaeleo zeylanicus (Indian chameleon / മരയോന്ത്)

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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Family: Gekkonidae (geckoes)

Genus: Cnemaspis

Cnemaspis littoralis (coastal day gecko)

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  Lateral view

Genus: Geckoella

Geckoella collegalensis (Kollegal ground gecko)

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  Lateral view

Genus: Gehyra

Gehyra mutilata (four-clawed gecko)

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  Lateral view
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  Head

Genus: Hemidactylus

Hemidactylus brookii (Brooke's house gecko)

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  Illustration
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Hemidactylus frenatus (common house gecko)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view
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  Dorsal view

Hemidactylus maculatus (spotted leaf-toed gecko)

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  Dorsal view

Hemidactylus prashadi (Bombay leaf-toed gecko)

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  Dorsal view

Hemidactylus reticulatus (reticulate leaf-toed gecko)

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  Dorsal view

Hemidactylus triedrus (termite hill gecko)

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  Dorsal view
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  Dorsal view
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  Dorsal view

Family: Lacertidae (lacertas)

Genus: Ophisops

Ophisops beddomei (Beddome's snake-eye/lacerta)

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  Dorsal view

Ophisops leschenaultii (Leschenault's snake-eye/lacerta)

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  Dorsal view
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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Family: Scincidae (skinks)

Genus: Chalcides

Chalcides pentadactylus (five-fingered skink)

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  Illustration
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  Illustration

Genus: Eutropis

Eutropis carinata (golden skink / അരണ)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view

Eutropis macularia (bronze grass skink)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Genus: Kaestlea/Scincella

Kaestlea travancorica (Travancore ground skink)

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  Dorsal view

Genus: Lygosoma

Lygosoma punctata (white-spotted supple skink / പാമ്പരണ)

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  Dorsal view

Genus: Ristella

Ristella rurkii (Rurk's cat skink)

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  Claw pattern

Ristella travancorica (Travancore cat skink)

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  Dorsal view
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  Head

Genus: Sphenomorphus

Sphenomorphus dussumieri (Dussumier's forest skink / കാട്ടരണ)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view

Family: Varanidae (monitor lizards)

Genus: Varanus

Varanus bengalensis (Bengal/Indian monitor / ഉടുമ്പ്)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Front view
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  Head
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  Head (juvenile)

Suborder: Serpentes

Family: Acrochordidae (file snakes)

Genus: Acrochordus

Acrochordus granulatus (marine file snake / കായൽ പാമ്പ്)

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  Illustration
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  Lateral view

Family: Colubridae (colubrid snakes)

Genus: Ahaetulla

Ahaetulla dispar (Gunther's vine snake / മലമ്പച്ചോലൻ പാമ്പ്)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Ahaetulla nasuta (green vine snake / പച്ചിലപാമ്പ്‌)

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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Ahaetulla perroteti (Western Ghats bronzeback / ചോലപ്പച്ചോലൻ‍)

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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Ahaetulla pulverulenta (brown vine snake / തവിട്ടോലപ്പാമ്പ്)

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  Illustration
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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Genus: Argyrogena

Argyrogena fasciolata (banded racer / വള്ളിച്ചേര)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Genus: Boiga

Boiga beddomei (Beddome's cat snake)

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  Head

Boiga ceylonensis (Sri Lanka cat snake / കാട്ടുവലയൻ പാമ്പ്)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Boiga forsteni (Forsten's cat snake / കരികുരിയൻ പാമ്പ്)

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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view

Boiga nuchalis (collared cat snake / വളയൻ പൂച്ചക്കണ്ണിപ്പാമ്പ്)

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  Lateral view

Boiga trigonata (common cat snake / പൂച്ചക്കണ്ണൻ)

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  Illustration
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  Lateral view
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  Front view

Genus: Chrysopelea

Chrysopelea ornata (golden tree snake / നാഗത്താൻപാമ്പ്)

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  Dorsal view
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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Genus: Coelognathus

Coelognathus helena (trinket snake / കാട്ടുപാമ്പ്)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Genus: Dendrelaphis

Dendrelaphis chairecaeos/chairecacos (southern bronzeback / നൽവരയൻകൊംബെരി പാമ്പ്)

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  Head

Dendrelaphis girii (Giri's bronzeback / കാട്ടുകൊംബെരി പാമ്പ്)

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  Lateral view
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  Head

Dendrelaphis grandoculis (large-eyed bronzeback / മലകൊംബെരി പാമ്പ്)

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  Lateral view
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  Head

Dendrelaphis tristis (common bronzeback / വില്ലൂന്നി)

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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Head
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  Front view

Genus: Lycodon

Lycodon aulicus (Indian wolf snake / വെള്ളിവരയൻ പാമ്പ്)

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  Lateral view
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  Dorsal view
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  Dorsal view
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  Melanistic form

Lycodon nympha (bridal snake)

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  Dorsal view

Lycodon striatus (barred wolf snake / വരവരയൻ പാമ്പ്)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Lycodon travancoricus (Travancore wolf snake / തിരുവിതാംകൂർ വെള്ളിവരയൻ‍)

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  Dorsal view
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  Dorsal view
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  Ventral view
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  Head

Genus: Oligodon

Oligodon affinis (western kukri / മലഞ്ചുരുട്ട)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view
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  Head

Oligodon arnensis (banded kukri / വരയൻ ചുരുട്ട)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view
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  Head

Oligodon brevicauda (shorthead kukri / കുട്ടിവാലൻ ചുരുട്ട)

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  Illustration
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Oligodon taeniolatus (streaked kukri)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view
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  Dorsal view
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  Dorsal view
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  Head

Genus: Ptyas

Ptyas mucosa (Indian rat snake / ചേര)

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  Illustration
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  Lateral view
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  Courtship
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  Head

Genus: Sibynophis

Sibynophis subpunctatus (Duméril's black-headed snake / എഴുത്താണി ചുരുട്ട)

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  Dorsal view

Family: Erycidae/Erycinae (sand boas)

Genus: Eryx

Eryx conicus (Russell's boa / ഇരുതലൻ മണ്ണൂലി)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Eryx johnii (Indian sand boa / വലിയ മണ്ണൂലി)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Eryx whitakeri (Whitaker's sand boa)

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  Dorsal view
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  Head

Family: Elapidae (elapid snakes)

Genus: Bungarus

Bungarus caeruleus (common krait / വെള്ളിക്കെട്ടൻ)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view

Genus: Calliophis

Calliophis bibroni (Bibron's coral snake / എഴുത്താണി വളയൻ)

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  Lateral view
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  Head

Calliophis nigrescens (black coral snake / ഇരുളൻ പവിഴപ്പാമ്പ്)

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  Ventral view

Genus: Hydrophis

Hydrophis cyanocinctus (annulated sea snake / നീലവരയൻ)

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  Illustration

Hydrophis ornatus (ornate reef sea snake / ചിറ്റുളിപ്പാമ്പ്)

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• 

Hydrophis platurus (yellow-bellied sea snake / മഞ്ഞക്കറുപ്പൻ പാമ്പ്)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view

Hydrophis schistosus (hook-nosed sea snake / വലകടിയൻ കടൽപാമ്പ്)

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  Illustration

Genus: Naja

Naja naja (Indian cobra / ഇന്ത്യൻ മൂർഖൻ)

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  Head
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  Head

Genus: Ophiophagus

Ophiophagus hannah (king cobra / രാജവെമ്പാല)

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  Illustration
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  Head

Family: Homalopsidae (mud snakes)

Genus: Cerberus

Cerberus rynchops (dog-faced water snake / ആറ്റുവായ്പ്പാമ്പ്)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view

Genus: Dieurostus

Dieurostus dussumierii (Dussumier's water snake / ചെളിക്കൂട)

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  Lateral view

Family: Natricidae/Natricinae (Keelbacks)

Genus: Atretium

Atretium schistosum (split keelback / പച്ചനീർമണ്ഡലി)

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  Dorsal view
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  Head

Genus: Amphiesma

Amphiesma stolatum (buff striped keelback / തെയ്യാൻ പാമ്പ്)

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  Dorsal view
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  Dorsal view
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  Head
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  Head
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  Eggs

Genus: Hebius

Hebius beddomei (Nilgiri keelback)

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  Head
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  Head

Amphiesma monticola (hill keelback / കാട്ടുനീർക്കോലി)

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  Dorsal view
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  Head
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  Head

Genus: Rhabdophis

Rhabdophis plumbicolor (green keelback / പച്ചനാഗം)

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  Illustration
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  Lateral view (adult)
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  Dorsal view (juvenile)
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  Lateral view (juvenile)
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  Head

Genus: Fowlea

Fowlea piscator (checkered keelback / നീർക്കോലി)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Family: Pythonidae (pythons)

Genus: Python

Python molurus (Indian python / മലമ്പാമ്പ്)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Head
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  Eggs

Family: Typhlopidae (blind snakes)

Genus: Indotyphlops

Indotyphlops braminus (brahminy blind snake)

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Family: Uropeltidae (shieldtails)

Genus: Melanophidium

Melanophidium bilineatum (two-lined black shieldtail)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view

Melanophidium punctatum (Beddome's black shieldtail)

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  Illustration

Genus: Plectrurus

Plectrurus guentheri (Günther's burrowing snake)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view

Plectrurus perrotetii (Nilgiri burrowing snake)

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  Dorsal view

Genus: Rhinophis

Rhinophis fergusonianus (Cardamom Hills earth snake)

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  Illustration

Rhinophis sanguineus (red-bellied shieldtail)

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  Illustration

Genus: Uropeltis

Uropeltis ceylanica (Kerala shieldtail)

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  Illustration
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  Illustration

Uropeltis liura (Günther's earth snake)

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  Illustration

Uropeltis pulneyensis (Palni shieldtail / പഴനിപ്പാമ്പ്)

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  Illustration

Uropeltis rubromaculata/rubromaculatus (red-spotted shieldtail / കുങ്കുമപ്പൊട്ടൻ പാമ്പ്)

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  Lateral view

Family: Viperidae (vipers)

Genus: Daboia

Daboia russelii (Russell's viper / അണലി)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Head

Genus: Echis

Echis carinatus (saw-scaled viper / ചുരുട്ടമണ്ഡലി)

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  Illustration
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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view

Genus: Hypnale

Hypnale hypnale (hump-nosed viper / മുഴമൂക്കൻ കുഴിമണ്ഡലി)

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  Lateral view
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  Dorsal view
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  Dorsal view
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  Head

Genus: Trimeresurus

Trimeresurus gramineus (bamboo pit viper / മുളമണ്ഡലി)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Front view
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  Head

Trimeresurus macrolepis (large-scaled pit viper / ചട്ടിത്തലയൻ കുഴിമണ്ഡലി)

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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Front view
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  Head

Trimeresurus malabaricus (Malabar pit viper / ചോലമണ്ഡലി)

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  Dorsal view
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  Lateral view
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  Lateral view
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  Front view
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  Head

Family: Xenodermatidae (narrow-headed snakes)

Genus: Xylophis

Xylophis perroteti (Perrotet's mountain snake)

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  Lateral view
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  Head

See also

• Wildlife of Kerala
• List of Odonata of Kerala
• List of butterflies of Kerala
• List of amphibians of Kerala
• List of birds of Kerala
• List of mammals of Kerala

References

• Palot, M. J. (2015). "A checklist of reptiles of Kerala, India". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7 (13): 8010–8022
• Indian snake checklist
• Daniel, J. C.(2002). The Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. Bombay Natural History Society and Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-566099-4

External links

• Reptile database
• Herpetology in South Asia

Media related to Reptiles of Kerala at Wikimedia Commons