Green Pit Viper

The green pit viper is most colorful and attractive snake in Kanneliya.color is green with black markings and the head has a black variegated pattern. The ventral aspect is greenish with a tinge of yellow. The colorations of this viper well merge into the foliage

Physical Characteristics
This snake can be identified from a distance by its green colouration with green quadrant shaped patches with black outlines. It has a large triangular head. The ventral aspect is greenish with a tinge of yellow.

Distribution and Conservation
Common in forests of central hills of the island at an altitude of 1000m (Kandy and Knuckles). Most often recorded at sea level. It is mainly confined to wet, intermediate and dry zone forests and submontane forests. It is also found in tea, coffee and cocoa plantations.

Habitat and diet
Lizards, birds and tree frogs account for a major proportion of its diet and preys upon rodents as well. This snake usually waits motionless until a suitable prey approaches or ambushes its prey. The prey is killed by its venom and often held in its mouth until dead, at which point the prey is swallowed whole.

Snakes of Sri Lanka

Suborder SEREPENTES

File Snakes (Acrochordidae)
1 Wart Snake (Acrochordus granulatus)

Pythons & Boas (Boidae)
2 Sand Boa (Gongylophis conica)
3 Indian Python (Python molurus)

Pipe Snakes (Cylindrophidae)
4 Pipe Snake (Cylindrophis maculata)

Colubrid Snakes (Colubridae)
5 Green Vine Snake (Ahaetulla nasuta)
6 Brown Vine Snake (Ahaetulla pulverulenta)
7 Buff-striped Keelback (Amphiesma stolatum)
8 Banded Racer (Argyrogena fasciolata)
9 Boie's Roughside (Aspidura brachyorrhos)
10 Cope's Roughside (Aspidura copei)
11 Deraniyagala's Roughside (Aspidura deraniyagalae)
12 Guenther's Drummond-Hay's Roughside (Aspidura drummondhayi)
13 Ferguson's Roughside (Aspidura guentheri)
14 Common Roughside (Aspidura trachyprocta)
15 The Olive Keelback Watersnake (Atretium schistosum)
16 Sri Lanka Keelback (Balanophis ceylonensis)
17 Barne's Cat Snake (Boiga barnesii)
18 Beddoms Cat Snake (Boiga beddomei)
19 Sri Lanka Cat Snake (Boiga ceylonensis)
20 Forsten's Cat Snake (Boiga forsteni)
21 Gamma Cat Snake (Boiga trigonatus)
22 Ranawana's Golden Cat Snake (Boiga Ranawanei)
23 Dog-faced Water Snake (Cerebrus rynchops)
24 The Sri Lanka Wolf Snake (Cercaspis carinata)
25 Ornate Flying Snake (Chrysopelea ornata)

A Checklist of the Snakes of Sri Lanka
26 Striped Flying Snake (Chrysopelea taprobanica)
27 Trinket Snake (Coeloganthus helena)
28 Boulenger's Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis bifrenalis)
29 Gunther's Bronze Back (Dendrelaphis caudolineolatus)
30 Oliver's Bronze Back (Dendrelaphis oliveri)
31 Common Bronze Back (Dendrelaphis tristis)
32 Scarce Bridal Snake (Dryocalamus gracilis)
33 Bridal Snake (Dryocalamus nympha)
34 Gerard's Water Snake (Gerarda prevostianus)
35 TBlack Spine Snake (Haplocercus ceylonensis)
36 Reed Snake (Liopeltis calamaria)
37 Wolf Snake (Lycodon aulicus)
38 Flowery Wolf Snake (Lycodon osmanhilli)
39 Shaw's Wolf Snake (Lycodon striatus)
40 The Green Keelback (Macropisthodon plumbicolor)
41 Common Kukri Snake (Oligodon arnensis)
42 Templeton's Kukri Snake (Oligodon calamarius)
43 Dumerul's Kukri Snake (Oligodon sublineatus)
44 The Variegated Kukri Snake (Oligodon taeniolata)
45 Russell's Kukri Snake (Oligodon taeniolata)
46 Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosa)
47 Jerdon's Polyodent (Sibynophis subpunctatus)
48 The Checkered Keelback (Xenochrophis asperrimus)
49 The Checkered Keelback (Xenochrophis piscator)

Elapid Snakes (Elapidae)
50 The Common Krait (Bungarus ceylonicus)
51 Sri Lanka Krait (Bungarus ceylonicus)
52 Sri Lanka Coral Snake (Calliophis melanurus)
53 Indian Cobra (Naja naja)

Sea Snakes (Hydrophiidae)
54 Stoke's Sea Snake (Astrotia stokesii)
55 Hook Nose Sea Snake (Enhydrina schistosa)
56 Peter's Sea Snake (Hydrophis bituberculatus)
57 The Chitul (Hydrophis cyanocinctus)
58 John's Sea Snake (Hydrophis gracilis)
,
A Checklist of the Snakes of Sri Lanka
59 Persian Gulf Sea Snake (Hydrophis lapemoides)
60 Gray's Sea Snake (Hydrophis ornatus)
61 Narrow Banded Sea Snake (Hydrophis spiralis)
62 Guenther's Sea Snake (Hydrophis stricticollis)
63 Jerdon's Sea Snake (Kerilia jerdonii)
64 Shaw's Sea Snake (Lapemis curtus)
65 Yellow-bellied Sea Snake (Pelamis platurus)
66 Schmidt's Sea Snake (Thalassophina viperina)

Worm Snakes (Typhlopidae)
67 Common Blind Snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus)
68 Smith's Blind Snake (Typhlops ceylonicus)
69 Lanka Blind Snake (Typhlops lankaensis)
70 Pied Tylophs (Typhlops leucomelas)
71 Malcolm's Blind Snake (Typhlops malcolmi)
72 Jan's Blind Snake (Typhlops mirus)
73 Stoliczka's Blind Snake (Typhlops porrectus)
74 Taylor's Blind Snake (Typhlops tenebrarum)
75 Veddha's Blind Snake (Typhlops veddae)
76 Violet Blind Snake (Typhlops violaceus)

Sheildtails (Uropeltidae)
77 Large Shield Tail (Pseudotyphlops philippinus)
78 Blyth's Earth Snake (Rhinophis blythii)
89 Orange Shield Tail (Rhinophis dorsimaculatus)
80 Drummond-Hay's Earth Snake (Rhinophis drummondhayi)
81 Kelaarts Earth Snake (Rhinophis homolepis)
82 Schneider's Earth Snake (Rhinophis oxyrynchus)
83 Cuvier's Earth Snake (Rhinophis philippinus)
84 Willey's Earth Snake (Rhinophis porrectus)
85 Muller's Earth Snake (Rhinophis punctatus)
83 Deraniyagala's Shield Tail (Rhinophis tricoloratus)
87 Black Shield Tail (Uropeltis melanogaster)
88 Phillips's Shield Tail (Uropeltis phillipsi)

Reptiles of Kanneliya

36 species of snakes, including 17 endemic forms, belonging to six families have been recorded from kannaliya. Within the reserve, a higher diversity of reptile fauna is found in the middle kannaliya areas. 
Those included Blind snakes, Shield tailed snakes, Python and Boas, Cobras, Vipers and many more. Dumutu Kanaulla, , Pimbura, Pala polanga Thith Polanga, Kunakatuwa and especial of them Depath naya.

Several species of colubrids are usually encountered in the Narangas Ella, Anagimal Ella and Kabbale kanda nature trails, the grebe whip snake being the most common snake. Other common species includes Bonze-back snakes and rough-side snakes.

Checklist of snakes recorded from KannaliyaBlind snakes (Family Typhlopidae)Ramphotyphlops braminus - common blind snake - Dumutu kanaulla

Shield-tailed snakes (Family Uropeltidae)Cylindrophis maculata Pipe snake Depath nayaRhinophis blythii Blyth’s earth snake GomarathudullaUropeltis melanogaster Gray’s earth snake kaluwakatulla

Python and Boas (Family Boidae)Python molurus Indian python Pimbura

Cobras, Kraits & coral snakes (Family Elapidae)Bungarus ceylonicus Sri Lankan krait Mudu karawalaNaja naja Indian cobra Naya

Vipers & Pit vipers (Family Viperidae)Daboia russelii Russell’s viper Tith polongaHypnale hypnale Merrem’s hump-nosed kunakatuwaviper PolonthelissaHypnale nepa Millard’s hump-nosed Mukalan thelissviperTrimeresurus trigonocephala Green pit viper Pala polonga

     

snake

Some people think of snakes as uniformly dangerous, while others think of them as exotic, interesting pets. While not all snakes are dangerous, you should consider carefully whether you can really handle having one as a pet. Here are some facts about snakes to help you make your decision.

FACT 1: Snakes are not easy to care for. Snakes need a reptile cage heated by a thermostat and ultraviolet lamps. They are cold-blooded animals, so temperature control is extremely important for their health. In addition to their environmental needs, they will have to be fed regularly using a hemostat. Finally, snakes can be large or aggressive, so you will need to use a snake hook to move them when you clean out their cage. These snake supplies may be expensive, especially food, so think carefully about whether you can afford to take proper care of a snake.

FACT 2: Snakes are 100% carnivorous. They do not eat anything other than small animals. You will either have to feed them live mice, fish, and insects or buy frozen varieties of these animals for them. If the idea of feeding one live animal to another bothers you, then snake ownership is not for you.

FACT 3: Snakes are prone to mites. These vermin are a nuisance and can make your snake uncomfortable or unhealthy. You may need the help of your veterinarian in order to protect your snake from mite infestation, which means more time and money spent taking care of the snake.

Do these facts mean you should not purchase a snake? Not necessarily. It depends upon whether you have the time and money to purchase snake supplies, the stomach to feed the snake what it needs, and the dedication to take care of it properly should it become sick or uncomfortable. As with any pet, snake ownership is a large responsibility, and it is not fair to the snake to bring it into your home if you are not willing to meet these responsibilities.
If, however, the idea of having an exotic pet appeals to you, you have the resources to make sure the snake is well cared for, and you believe you could love a snake even though it will not return your affections, there is no reason you should not purchase one. Different breeds have somewhat different needs, so make sure to do your research before adopting a particular type of snake. Above all, don't forget to enjoy your snake as you take care of him

Describing

The Kannaliya forest reserve is the part of the Kannaliya , Dediyagala,Nakiyadeniya forest complex located in the southern province of Sri Lanka , about 35 km. north east of Galle. This is a very important place for biological diversity of Sri Lanka. Kannaliya, Dediyagala, Nakiyadeniya is called KDN complex. The total extent of the Kannaliya forest reserve is 5,305.9 ha .

CLIMATE This area has an average annual rainfall of about 4445 mm. mainly during the south west monsoon period (mid may to end September). The mean monthly temperature is around 27C .Mainly there are three major streams, namely, kannaliya ela, nannikita ela and udugam dola which are tributaries of the Gingaga. Kannaliya is ranked as the most important natural forest in the southern province for the protection of head waters of river systems, as it has the highest number of streams within these forest’s(111 streams ). The kannali ela and nannikita ela catchments have a high proportion of steep slopes and high percentages of forest cover indicating superior catchments.

FLORA The natural vegetation of the KDN complex is wet evergreen forest, which is a climax forest formation .floristically, it is much like the lowland rain forests of Malaysia, with the characteristic multistoried structure and diversity of species .The varying topography and the climatic condition provide a conducive environment for the luxuriant growth of vegetation which includes some large trees that occur as emergents, having straight boles , and characteristic buttresses depicting the lowland rain forests.

FAUNA This relatively undisturbed and complex environment is home to a rich diversity of fauna with a high degree of endemism. Recent studies have revealed the presence of 122 bird species including 14 of the 23 endemic species .the stratification of the forest vegetation has created divers habitats for birds and it has enabled the formation of mixed species foraging bird locks.

These are some nature trails of Kanaliya.

• Anagimala waterfall
• Narangas Ella water fall
• Kabbale mountain

Snakes of Kannaliya


Entrance of kannaliya

Firstly you must come to the Galle in southern province. Then you can reach to the Kannaliya via Galle-Udugama road.

For further details about kannaliya
CHAMIL – 077-3538542

This is a  located in Galle District of southern province.you can reach to here via Galle - Udugama road.. Kanneliya is a most biologically divers area in south Asia. It is largest rain forest of  KDN. Kanneliya, Dediyagala, Nakiyadenia.. It's  provides an ideal place to observe wet zone forest birds within a range of diverse habitats such as heavily forested areas, riverine forests, disturbed areas and peripheral village home gardens. Multi - colored foraging mixed species bird flocks are an attractive sight commonly found in these forests. 

Distance from Colombo : 125 Km (2 hrs) 

Distance from Airport : 155 Km (2hrs & 45 Mins) 

Contact Details : Forest Department (0094)(0)11 2866631 / Kanneliya - (0094)(0)91 5630579 

Route : Colombo -> Galle[116km on A2] -> Udugama [32km on B129] -> Panangala [6km on B156] -> Koralegama -> Kanneliya Conservation Centre [2km](approximately 156km) - See more at: 

Catagory : Birds/Waterfalls/Nature/Wild Life/Campaign/ 

Attraction and Activities

• Anagimala Waterfall
• Narangas Waterfall
• Bat Cave
• Ancient Tree (Nawanda)
• Pus wela
• Kabbale peak
• Rivulets
• Old logging Trail