Snakes In Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has been the home for so many species of snakes of which some are highly poisonous and others are mildly poisonous or non - poisonous. It has been calculated that 102 species of different types of snakes are found in Sri Lanka but out of them, 64 species are non - venomous which means the majority of them are harmless. It is also significant that nearly 50 species of them are found nowhere else in the world.

Snakes are fascinating and amazing creations of nature because they inherit a number of specific and isolated features other than other creatures. They are essentially reptiles without legs and creep along the ground. Almost all of them are carnivores feeding on the prey. Their salivary glands modified and developed into poisonous glands. The poison is sent by a canal and they purposely bite the prey with their canine teeth. They are known as ‘fangs’ which contain poison. The poison of a snake can be considered as a protein solution which contains enzymes and water. This poison effects the nervous system of the prey. Their mouth and jaw are specially adopted for the purpose of biting. The lower jaw consists of two halves. They are fastened by an elastic substance. As a result, the prey soon becomes paralyzed and also the enzymes half the digestion of the prey.

(3).        Snakes most often bring fear and anxiety among the common people because of their fatal bites, however, it is quite obvious that the snakes are fascinating and one cannot take his eyes away from it. The most significant thing is their cylindrical elongated scaly body. They have remarkable ways of getting around which is confined to themselves only. With this sinusoidal wriggle, they used to move on land and to swim in water both on the surface and beneath. They can also climb a tree by simply embracing its trunk. The prey they consume too varies from the smallest insect larvae, by a smallest blind snake to a large buffalo consumed by a large python.

(4).        Not that the snakes as a whole should be done away with because only those belonging to the highly venomous group can cause the death in a human. Of all the snakes in Sri Lanka, only five species are highly poisonous - the cobra, the Indian krait, Sri Lanka krait, saw sealed viper and Russel’s viper.

(5).        Cobra is considered as the most venomous snake which could be found in almost every part of the Island. A well - grown cobra is usually 130 - 300 cm. long. The upper side of the body is light brown and grey with yellow or white stripes at intervals. The most remarkable feature of a cobra, its hood which can be expanded, locates on its head. A cobra tries to find its food during the day time, however, in the night time it confines itself hiding in a termite hill, rat holes or piles of firewood.

(6).        Cobras were one of the revered snakes in Sri Lanka from ancient times. According to history records, the ‘Naga ‘(cobra) people were one of the four powerful tribes in Sri Lanka who ruled the Nothern and Western parts of the Island during the 6th century BC. to 3rd century BC. They were cobra worshippers. Ruins of the ancient cities speak of the harmony between snakes and the people of Sri Lanka for instance, guard - stones with a cobra king and seven - hooded cobra carved on stones can be taken. Even today, it appears that people in Sri Lanka hesitate to kill cobras although the latter is a threat to their life mainly because they, specially the rural masses bear some honour and homage to them