12 COMMON Types of Snakes Found in Nepal! (2023)
Do you want to learn about the types of snakes in Nepal?
If so, you’ve come to the right place. In the article below, I have listed the snakes you can expect to see. Then, for each species, you will find out how to identify that snake correctly, along with pictures, interesting facts, and RANGE MAPS!
You’ll see that the snakes that live in Nepal are very different from each other. They range from venomous species to snakes that use constriction to immobilize their prey. In addition, certain snakes are common to find living around people.
12 COMMON snakes that live in Nepal:
#1. Banded Krait
- Bungarus fasciatus
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are about 0.8 m (2.6 ft) long, but the largest recorded was 2.7 m (9 ft).
- Its body is covered in horizontal yellow and black bands. The underparts of the head are yellow.
- The head is black, with a broad shape, but not distinct from the body. Look for its distinctive keeled spine, which gives its body a triangular shape.
Banded Kraits can be seen in diverse habitats, ranging from forests to agricultural lands and open countryside plains. They often live near human settlements, especially villages, because of the large supply of rodents and water.
Due to their love of water, they can most commonly be seen during rainy seasons. They are also nocturnal and usually hunt at night, mainly feeding on other snakes but are also known to eat fish, skinks, frogs, and snake eggs.
If harassed, they will hide their heads under their coils and do not generally attempt to bite. But, since they are more active at night, it can be easy to stumble upon one and wind up in danger. The Banded Krait’s venom contains neurotoxins, and though bites are rare, it’s best to avoid this snake in Nepal.
#2. Checkered Keelback
- Fowlea piscator
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults reach up to 1.75 m (5.7 ft) in length.
- Their scale patterns form a chessboard pattern with varying colors, including pale brown, whitish, and beige to dark brown and black.
- The belly and throat are pale tan or white.
The Checkered Keelback is an aquatic snake in Nepal found in freshwater lakes and rivers.
Since it’s not a venomous species, it’s adapted other abilities to help it stay safe. For example, as a defense mechanism, the snake mimics a cobra by raising its head and expanding its neck to intimidate predators. It can also self-amputate its tail to run away from a threat.
Although it’s non-venomous, its bite can cause pain and inflammation. A mild pain medication or anti-inflammatory drug will help, but it’s best to avoid a bite from this species!
#3. Oriental Ratsnake
- Ptyas mucosa
Also known as Darash Indian Ratsnake or Dhaman.
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are 1.5-1.95 m (5-6.3 ft), while the record is 3.7 m (12 ft) long.
- Their color varies depending on habitat: pale browns in dry regions and nearly black in moist forest areas.
- Regardless of the upper coloring, the belly is a pale yellow to cream.
Look for Oriental Ratsnakes in rice paddies, wetlands, farmland, and suburban areas. They usually prey upon small reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. Interestingly, adults subdue their prey by sitting on it, using their body weight to weaken it.
Oriental Ratsnakes are wary, quick to flee, and fast-moving. If they can’t get away, adults make a growling sound and inflate their necks to mimic the posture of the King Cobra. This mimicry is likely a response to King Cobras preying on juvenile Oriental Ratsnakes.
Aside from cobras, these snakes don’t face any other animal predators. However, in some regions, humans hunt them for their skin and meat. Currently, there are efforts to regulate hunting and protect the population.
#4. Indian Cobra
- Naja naja
Also known as Spectacled Cobra, Binocellate Cobra, or Asian Cobra.
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are 1-1.5 meters (3.2-5 ft) long.
- They are uniformly black on top, while the underside is light gray, tan, or brown. Horizontal black bars decorate the throat.
- A pattern similar to a pair of glasses can be seen on the back of the neck, in the center of this species’ hood.
The Indian Cobra is a member of the “Big Four,” a group of snakes responsible for almost all deaths caused by snakes in Nepal. Its venom has a potent neurotoxin that leads to muscle paralysis and respiratory failure. It’s vital to be treated with the antivenom within 30 minutes to avoid the worst symptoms, so get treatment as soon as possible if you’re bitten.
This species lives in varied habitats throughout its range. It can be found in forests, plains, agricultural lands, wetlands, and rocky terrain. It even inhabits heavily populated urban areas, villages, and city outskirts.
Many people recognize Indian Cobras because of their use by Indian snake charmers. They also used to be used in snake fighting shows. Luckily, this practice has been outlawed.
#5. Buff Striped Keelback
- Amphiesma stolatum
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are 40-50 cm (16-20 in) long.
- Their coloring is dark gray or black with bold, vertical, cream-colored stripes.
- The undersides of the head and throat are a vibrant yellow.
The Buff-striped Keelback is a nonvenomous terrestrial snake that prefers wet lowland plains. This species isn’t dangerous to humans and rarely bites. But it will put on a show when threatened by flattening its head to form a cobra-like hood.
Look for Buff-striped Keelbacks during the day when they hunt for frogs, toads, earthworms, fish, and geckos. They have long rear teeth that easily capture slippery creatures and lock them in their jaws.
There are two morphs, both with the same apparent coloring and pattern. The only difference is the coloring between the scales, which is visible when the snake puffs out its body in a defensive move. The “typical” morph has silvery blue coloring between its scales (pictured above), while the second morph’s coloring is a vibrant red.
#6. Indian Wolf Snake
- Lycodon aulicus
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults reach 71 cm (28 in) in total length. Females can sometimes be larger than males.
- Their coloring varies from light brown to black, with thin, light-colored bands along the body.
- They have fangs in the upper jaw that they use for biting, even though they are nonvenomous.
The Indian Wolf Snake is strictly nocturnal, so you won’t have any luck finding this species during the day. It hunts frogs and lizards, specifically skinks, which comprise most of its diet. Its teeth are designed to pierce the smooth scales of skinks and hold on tightly to prevent them from escaping.
Even though it is nonvenomous, the Indian Wolf Snake defends itself aggressively by biting with its sharp fangs. It can leave deep, painful puncture wounds and lacerations. Another important defense of the Indian Wolf Snake is its ability to fake death. Individuals will lie completely motionless until the danger has passed.
#7. Burmese Python
- Python bivittatus
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults grow up to 5 m (16 ft) in length.
- They are dark colored with brown blotches bordered by black down the length of their bodies.
- Females are usually a little longer and heavier than males.
The Burmese Python is an excellent swimmer and climber, using its prehensile tail to grip branches as it moves through trees. They can remain underwater for up to 30 minutes but spend most of their time on land. Because of poaching, habitat destruction, and egg hunting for trade, Burmese Pythons are listed as a Vulnerable species by the IUCN in their native range.
Burmese Pythons are often sold as pets since they have attractive color morphs and an easygoing disposition.
Unfortunately, irresponsible pet owners have let Burmese Pythons escape, allowing this species to become invasive in the Florida Everglades. The Everglades provide a perfect habitat for these invasive snakes, with plenty of water and flat land. However, there are no predators here to keep the population in check, and they’ve come close to wiping out several native species because of their enormous numbers.
#8. King Cobra
- Ophiophagus hannah
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are 3-3.6 m (10-12 ft) long, but the largest specimens can grow up to 5.4 m (18 ft).
- Their coloring is olive green with black and white bands on the body.
- They have a prominent hood that opens in a defensive stance and a rounded nose.
The King Cobra is the longest venomous snake in Nepal.
Despite its size, this species is not considered particularly aggressive. It usually avoids humans and slinks off when disturbed. However, it is known to defend incubating eggs aggressively and strikes intruders rapidly. A single attack can deliver multiple bites.
Interestingly, the venom of hatchlings is as potent as the adults’. The babies are brightly marked, but these colors often fade as they mature. In addition, they are often nervous and alert, which makes them highly aggressive if disturbed.
Whether you encounter a juvenile or an adult, it’s best to give this dangerous snake a lot of space. Its bite results in excruciating pain, blurred vision, dizziness, fatigue, and even paralysis. If the bite victim doesn’t receive medical help, they can die from cardiovascular and respiratory failure within 30 minutes of the bite. Stay back!
#9. Indo-Chinese Rat Snake
- Ptyas korros
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults grow up to 108 cm (43 in) long.
- The upper body is olive, orange, or brown, and the belly is yellow. The tail is yellow, edged with black.
- This species has very large round eyes with round pupils.
The Indo-Chinese Rat Snake is active during the day when it hunts lizards, rodents, and sometimes birds. They can adapt to various habitats but prefer forested areas, grasslands, and plantations close to a water source. This species is common to find on walks and hikes because it’s relatively comfortable around people. Watch your step!
Indo-Chinese Rat Snakes are non-venomous, but their bite is still painful. Their first response to danger is to flee quickly. If that doesn’t work, they can expand their neck vertically, making them look taller and more imposing to predators. Finally, they will strike if forced into a confrontation.
#10. Painted Bronzeback
- Dendrelaphis pictus
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are 60-100 cm (24-39 in) long.
- Their coloring is brown on top and white below, with a black line, a yellow line, and bright blue markings on the sides.
- This species is thin and long with a small head and large eyes.
The arboreal Painted Bronzeback lives mostly in forested areas near a water source. However, you may also spot one in artificial habitats such as parks and gardens. They rest and sleep high up in trees or bushes and only occasionally come to the ground to hunt. They often prey on lizards and frogs.
Painted Bronzebacks are non-venomous and shy; they will usually flee if disrupted. If handled, the snake will inflate its body and flatten its neck laterally to reveal its turquoise color, then open its mouth and show off its bright red tongue. If these scare tactics don’t work, it will give a painful bite.
#11. Copperhead Rat Snake
- Coelognathus radiatus
Also known as Radiated Ratsnake or Copper-headed Trinket Snake.
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are 150-210 cm (59-83 in) long.
- Their coloring is brown, copper, gray, or tan, with black stripes that fade toward the tail.
- This species has a slender head with medium round eyes and round pupils.
Despite being non-venomous, this is one of the most aggressive snakes in Nepal!
Copperhead Rat Snakes are so vicious they’re often used as training snakes for people looking to get into handling venomous species, especially cobras. They’re highly defensive, making them difficult to control.
If they find themselves threatened, they inflate the neck to show bluish skin, bend the anterior half of the body into loops and open the mouth widely. If handled, they have a very quick strike and painful bite.
The Copperhead Rat Snake’s usual habitats are rocky, overgrown open spaces, grassy areas, shrublands, and jogging trails. They are mostly active during the day, so use caution if you go hiking or running in its range.
#12. Brahminy Blindsnake
- Indotyphlops braminus
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are 5.1-10.2 cm (2-4 in) long.
- Their coloring varies; charcoal gray, light yellow-beige, silver-gray, purplish, and white are common.
- The body shape is worm-like, and they are easily mistaken for earthworms.
This tiny species is the smallest snake in Nepal.
The Brahminy Blindsnake, as its name suggests, is almost completely blind. It has small, translucent eyes that can detect light but not form images. Although native to Nepal, this species is naturalized worldwide. It’s transported in the soil of potted plants, so the species earned the nickname Flowerpot Snake.
They spend almost all their time underground in ant and termite nests and live under logs, moist leaves, and stones. Look for them in suburban and even urban gardens and moist forests.
When distressed or attacked, the Brahminy Blindsnake will try to escape underground. If touched, it might press its tail on the attacker and release a smelly musk. Despite its rather creepy appearance, this snake is completely harmless to humans.
Do you want to learn about other animals in Nepal?
If so, check out these guides!
Which of these snakes have you seen before in Nepal?
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