Biodiversity of India  – Important Reptiles

Important Reptiles and Amphibians have been discussed as follows:

Turtles and Tortoises

The prominent species of Turtles found in India include Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea).

Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is a globally distributed sea turtle found in tropical and subtropical coastal waters in Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. Green sea turtles are large in size, mostly herbivorous, and threatened by habitat degradation, fisheries bycatch, and overharvesting of eggs and meat. IUCN status is endangered.

Loggerhead (Caretta caretta)

The loggerhead turtle is globally vulnerable and the most common sea turtle along India’s western coast. Adults reach one meter and feed on molluscs and crustaceans. Despite legal protection, fisheries interactions, marine pollution and coastal development degrade the inter-nesting habitat. Most observed nesting beaches are now protected to help local populations rebound. Expanding awareness programmes aim to mobilize fishing communities for better management. IUCN status is Vulnerable.

Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)

The olive ridley turtle is best known for their behavior of synchronized nesting in mass numbers, termed arribadas, at India’s eastern coast, particularly Odisha.

They are found in warm and tropical waters, primarily in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They are listed as “Vulnerable” in the IUCN Red List. In India, they have been included in Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Astaranga coast and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, both in Odisha, are home to Olive Ridley Turtles. The coastal waters of Gahirmatha have been designated as a Marine Sanctuary, and thus, its only Marine sanctuary of Odisha. This sanctuary boasts of possessing the world’s largest known rookery of Olive Ridley sea turtles.

The winter seasons is the mating and breeding season of these turtles.  Due to this, the Odisha Government imposes a ban on fishing activities inside the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary as well as 20 kms off the shore from November to May. But since this is a vast area, there is a heavy fishing pressure from local vessels as well as vessels from the neighbouring states like West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh and vessels from the neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Thailand etc. The state government tries to deal with them to extent possible with available manpower and resources. Despite a ban continual illegal fishing using mechanized trawlers on Astaranga coast and Gahirmatha beaches, is posing serious threat to the endangered Olive Ridley turtles.

Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata)

The hawksbill turtle inhabiting tropical coral reefs is critically endangered globally and extremely rare along India’s mainland coast. They face severe threats from habitat degradation, fisheries interactions and the shell trade. protective legislation bans consumption and trade of turtle products. But weak enforcement coupled with a lack of population monitoring hinders substantive action for hawksbill survival. Significant intervention is urgently required to prevent local extinction.

Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea)

The leatherback sea turtle is the largest living turtle and one of the heaviest reptiles reaching up to 1.8 meters long and 500 kilograms. Leatherback is distinct for lacking a hard bony shell. Instead, its carapace comprises thick, oily flesh and leathery skin which provides its name. Its IUCN status is Vulnerable.

This turtle traverses India’s waters during transoceanic migrations between nesting and feeding grounds across the earth. Entangled turtles are sometimes rescued along India’s coastlines.

Kachuga dhonkoga

Kachuga dhonkoga or Three-striped Roofed Turtle, also known as Batagur dhongoka and is a species of turtle mostly found in Nepal and Northeast India. This turtle has been classified Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is under threat because of the consumption for subsistence by the local population, degradation of the riverine habitat and disturbance of the breeding sites.

Captive Breeding Programme for Kachuga Dhonkoga

In order to augment the population of species, head start and captive breeding programmes have been taken up at the following places:

• Kukrail Centre Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
• Deori Crocodile and Turtle Rearing Centre, Madhya Pradesh
• Freshwater Turtle Conservation and Education Centre in National Chambal Sanctuary, Garhaita, Itawah, Uttar Pradesh.
• Scientific Name, IUCN Status, and Distribution:

Lizards

Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)

The mugger crocodile also known as Marsh Crocodile is a moderately large freshwater crocodile found throughout lakes, rivers and marshes across India and adjoining countries. As apex aquatic predators, muggers regulate aquatic food chains by preying on fish, turtles and small mammals. Its IUCN Status is Vulnerable.

Saltwater Crocodile

The saltwater crocodile or estuarine crocodile is the largest extant reptile inhabiting coastal swamps, lagoons and lower river reaches across eastern India notably in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and in the Sundarbans. IUCN status is Least Concern.

Gharial

The gharial or fish-eating crocodile has extremely narrow snout lined with delicate teeth which is an exquisite adaptation for catching fish and complements cultural reverence for this iconic species. As per Indian mythology, Gharial is the vahana of Goddess Ganga and Varuna, the god of water. It lives in deep fast-flowing rivers. The bulbous ‘ghara’ on the tip of the snout of mature males just above the nostrils, helps in creating a snorting hiss to advertise the animal’s presence, and dominance.

Gharials are found only in northern Indian subcontinent rivers. Once found abundantly in all the major river systems of South Asia, the Gharial is now extinct in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma and Bhutan. Nepal has only a remnant breeding population. In India too, the major breeding populations are confined to two rivers only, Girwa and the Chambal.  A few non-breeding populations exist in small pockets in other rivers in India. Gharial is listed as ‘Critically Endangered’ in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Between 2007-2008, over 100 Gharials in the Chambal perished in a mystery die-off attributed to a nephrotoxin possibly originating from contaminated fish in the Yamuna.

Odisha is the only state in India to possess all three crocodile species’ populations. The Mugger crocodile is sympatric with the Gharials- i.e., they are species that were recently separated from each other in the evolutionary process. They frequently encounter each other and share territories.

Bengal monitor

A large stocky monitor lizard averaging 5 feet long found widely across forest and scrubland habitats of India. Populations remain secure though some localized declines.

Alligator

No alligator species are native to India. Only crocodiles inhabit the country currently. In the past, Cretaceous fossil deposits have revealed ancient alligator relatives, but modern alligators are restricted to the Americas and China.

Snakes

King Cobra

The king cobra is the world’s longest venomous snake, reaching over 18 feet. It inhabits forests across India except the arid northwest. As opportunistic generalists, king cobras regulate rodent populations.

Indian Python

The Indian python is a non-venomous constrictor found throughout the subcontinent in habitat ranging from rainforests to deserts. Growing over 20 feet long on average, pythons regulate wildlife populations by feeding on rodents, birds and deer.

Russel’s Viper

Russel’s viper is widespread venomous snake inhabiting diverse habitats except high mountains across the Indian subcontinent. Abundant yet secretive ambush predators control rodent populations. Responsible for numerous snakebites, cultural eradication attempts fail to significantly control populations but fuel risky encounters.

Red Sand Boa

The small non-venomous red sand boa inhabits arid regions of west India burrowing within loose soil and leaf litter.