INTRODUCTION

LAND SNAKES CAN BE DOING AFFECT TO MAN AS PHYSICALLY AND ATTENTION.

There are 96 snakes were recorded from Sri Lanka included in 8 families so far, 51 species are endemic to Sri Lanka. 34 species are venomous (Sea snakes & Land snakes).
Others are non-venomous snakes. 13 species are highly venomous. Sea snakes live in coastal waters around Sri Lanka. 07 species highly venomous snakes, 03 species moderately venomous snakes and 11 species snakes are mildly venomous snakes which live in land areas.
10 species land snakes can be doing affect to man as physically and attention.

Snakes in Sri Lanka

There are 96 snakes in Sri Lanka. Among them there are 34 species are venomous.

We can divide them as highly venomous and mildly venomous.


There are 13 species highly venomous snakes in coastal water around Sri Lanka (sea snakes). But I try to explain you from this site about only venomous land snakes.

From this page I introduce you the families and the names of the venomous snakes that we can see in Sri Lanka.

Families of The Venomous Land Snakes

01. Family-Hydrophiidae
This group comprises all the snakes inhabiting the costal waters around Sri Lanka. There are 13 species sea snakes recorded from Sri Lankan coastal areas. They all are highly venomous snakes.
02. Family- Elapidae
There are 4 highly venomous land snakes in family Elapidae in Sri Lanka. There are
• Common krait(Bungarus caeruleus)
• Ceylon krait(Bangarus ceylonicus)
• Indian cobra(Naja naja naja)
• Coral snake(Calliophis melanurus sinhaleyus)
Among them Ceylon krait (Bangarus ceylonicus) & Coral snake (Calliophis melanurus sinhaleyus) are the endemic in Sri Lanka.
03. Family-Viperidae
There 6 land species land snakes found in family viperidae. Both of highly and moderately venomous included to this family.
• Russell’s viper(Vipera russelli)
• Saw scalled viper(Echis carinatus carinatus)
• Hump nosed viper(Hypnale hypnale)
• Green pit viper(Trimeresurus trigonocephalus)
• Mimard’s humphosed viper(Hypnale nepa)
• Gloyd’s humphosed viper(Hypnale walli)

Bungarus celonicus

Family: Elapidae
Common names:
• Sinhala - Madu karawala• Tamil - Yannai viriyan
• English - Ceylon krait

Natural history:
Ceylon krait is a highly venomous terrestrial snake, which is nocturnal in habits. They are inoffensive in disposition, and only under great provocation can they be induced to bite.



Length :500mm
Distribution:Gampola, Kandy, Peradeniya, Pussellawa, Palledeltota. Gamaduwa (CP)
Badulla, Wallimada, Guruthalawa, Namunukula, Bandarawella, Haggala, Hortan plains (UP), Rathnapura, Kahawatte, Balangoda (Sab.p), Ingiriya, Mathugama (WP) ,Opatha (SP)
Status: Endemic to Sri lanka .A common snake but over killed.

Foods:Mice , Geckos . Skinks, Earth snakes
Reproduction: Female lays about 5 eggs in one fold.