Reptiles
177 Results
Four New King Cobras Make Hisss...tory
Genetic and morphological analyses of king cobras from across their range reveal it is not a single species, but four distinct ones
News
SARPA – An App That Saves Lives
This innovative tech intervention, accessible to anyone with a smartphone, streamlines snake rescue efforts and minimises human-wildlife conflict
Wild Vault
Asian Glass Lizard: Facts, Habitat, Range
All you need to know about this insectivorous legless lizard
Infographic
Indian Star Tortoise: Facts, Diet, Threats
All you need to know about these land tortoises
Infographic
Peninsular Rock Agama: Facts, Behaviour, Habitat
All you need to know about this ground-dwelling lizard
Infographic
Local Rituals Pay Tribute to Muggers Despite Present-day Trials
The annual Maange Thapnee ritual in Ponda, Goa, is an agrarian tradition symbolising the relationship between people and muggers, highlighting the cultural significance of coexistence
Wild Vault
Impressed Tortoise: Facts, Range, Threats
All you need to know about this rare, land-dwelling reptile
Infographic
Little File Snake: Facts, Range, Scales
All you need to know about these non-venomous aquatic snakes
Infographic
Subtle Showstoppers: Bowled Over by the Monitors in My Yard
Their ancient aura and irreplaceable swagger intact, udumbus or common monitor lizards have proliferated in a little village in Kerala’s backwaters
Wild Vault
Water Monitor Lizard and its Many Defence Strategies
When confronted with potential danger, the water monitor’s first instinct is to flee. Nonetheless, these semiaquatic lizards are equipped with a solid set of defence strategies, enabling them to thrive in water and on land
Photo Story
Coexisting with Snakes in Goa – A Utopian Dream?
A concerted effort by individuals and NGOs over the last two decades has increased awareness about snakes in Goa, reducing the number of snakebites and human and snake mortality from encounters
Conservation
Jeypore ground gecko: Facts, Rediscovery, Threats
All you need to know about this nocturnal gecko endemic to the Eastern Ghats
Infographic
Common Trinket Snake: Facts, Appearance, Habitat
All you need to know about this non-venomous snake
Infographic
Russell's Viper: Facts, Colour, Venom
All you need to know about India's deadliest snake
Infographic
Laungwala Toad-headed Agama: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this lizard that thrives in the Thar desert
Infographic
Jeypore Ground Gecko: Hidden in the Mountains
Tracking a ground-dwelling, bent-toed endangered gecko species through its shrinking habitats in the flat-topped hills in the northern Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha
Species
Don't Be Hard on the Softshell Turtle
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment and conservation
Green Humour
When a Gharial Travelled from India to Pakistan
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment and conservation
Green Humour
Rajasthan Toad-headed Agama: Master of the Shifting Sands
Of evolutionary significance for conservation, this small agama is found occupying sand dunes that have almost no vegetation, only in a few localities of Jaisalmer District
Species
Oriental Garden Lizard: Facts, Diet, Habitat
All you need to know about this insectivorous lizard found in Asia
Infographic
Oriental Garden Lizards: Quick Learners or Bloodsuckers?
Enhanced vision and the ability to recognise colours and make associations allows these reptiles to benefit us as bioregulators of crop pests
Species
Indian Golden Gecko: Facts, Appearance, Habitat
All you need to know about these large-headed spindly geckos
Infographic
Rough-scaled Sand Boa: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about this non-venomous, burrowing thick-bodied snake
Infographic
Saw-scaled Viper: Facts, Habitat, Venom
All you need to know about the smallest of the big four venomous snakes in India
Infographic
What Lies Beneath: Rough-scaled Sand Boa
Also called the common sand boa, these non-venomous burrowing snakes are built for life underground, from where they can easily ambush small-sized prey
Species
Identifying Mugger Crocodiles Using Drones
Researchers in Gujarat believe the model could be useful in rescue and relocation efforts to minimise human-crocodile conflicts and in analysing mugger biology.
Conservation
Sea Turtles of India
Meet five sea turtles that show up along the coasts of the Indian subcontinent
Explainer
Crowned River Turtle: Facts, Sexual Dimorphism, Nesting
All you need to know this endangered freshwater turtle
Infographic
Ornate Flying Snake: Facts, Range, Venom
All you need to know about this snake capable of gliding flight
Infographic
Playing Hide and Seek with the Saw-Scaled Viper in Goa
In the laterite plateaus of the Western Ghats, one of India’s most venomous snakes, the saw-scaled viper, finds a safe habitat
Species
Trinket Snakes and Their Treasured Personal Space
Though these nocturnal beauties are non-venomous, when threatened, they may rise menacingly and strike
Species
Sikkim Grass Lizard Spotted in Nepal
Researchers have confirmed the presence of the elusive lizard in eastern Nepal, nearly 100 kilometers from its known range in Sikkim
News
Bengal Monitor: Armoured Carnivores of Asia
Bengal monitors are as mighty and tenacious as they look, surviving and thriving in various habitats, including bustling urban spaces
Photo Story
Water Monitor: Everyday life of a Misunderstood Dragon
Many myths surround the water monitor lizard. Some believe its forked tongue is evil. Some even think that it kills cattle. None of this is true. Watch to learn more about this mystical creature of the mangroves and its struggle for survival.
Video
Geckos and Lizards: What’s the Difference?
All geckos are lizards. But are all lizards geckos? Here's a quick guide to what sets them apart
Explainer
Cantor's Giant Softshell Turtle: Habitat, Breeding, Conservation Efforts
All you need to know about the frog-faced softshell freshwater turtle
Infographic
Olive Ridleys: When One in a Thousand Survives
The life of an olive ridley sea turtle is fraught with peril. Even before they hatch, they face predators. Once hatchlings emerge, they continue to encounter a never-ending series of human-created dangers and natural obstacles
Photo Story
An Andaman Day Gecko Trying to Get Through the Week
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment and conservation
Green Humour
Olive Ridley Turtles Threatened by Upcoming Port in Karnataka
An upcoming port and the corresponding road and railway network could destroy a turtle nesting region in Honnavar in Uttara Kannada district
Conservation
Gharial: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about one of the largest crocodile species
Infographic
Pit Vipers of Northeast India
Of all the incredible reptiles found in Arunachal Pradesh’s Talle Wildlife Sanctuary, pit vipers are some of the most intriguing
Photo Story
Dune Dinos: Laungwala Toad-headed Agama of the Thar Desert
With thick skin, a heavily scaled body, and perfect camouflage, this lizard is well adapted to living in one of the harshest environments in the world
Photo Story
Crocodilians of India: Size, Lifespan, Habitat
India is home to three species of crocodiles — saltwater crocodile, marsh crocodile and the gharial. Meet them here
Infographic
Back from the Brink: Saltwater Crocodiles in Bhitarkanika
In the 1970s, the saltwater crocodiles of Bhitarkanika were on the edge of extinction, until a focused conservation effort revived their population in the mangroves
Species
Turtles and Tortoises: What’s the Difference?
They may belong to the same order, but there's a lot that sets them apart. Here's a quick guide
Explainer
Forest Calotes: Facts, Behaviour, Diet
All you need to know about this small lizard of the understorey and forest floor
Infographic
Indian Rat Snake: Facts, Diet, Habitat
All you need to know about this non-venomous, fast-moving snake
Infographic
Spiny‑tailed Lizard: Facts, Size, Habitat
All you need to know about this hardy survivor of extreme deserts
Infographic
Indian Chameleon: Facts, Behaviour, Diet
All you need to know about this slow-moving lizard
Infographic
Leopard Gecko: Trapped in Trade and Labs
Little is known about these geckos from the Eublepharidae family that are popular in pet trade and as model organisms in laboratories
Conservation
Reptiles: Facts, Types, Evolution
All you need to know about these cold-blooded animals
Infographic
Spectacled Cobra: Facts, Diet, Threats
All you need to know about the most venerated snake in the world
Infographic
Three Lions Take on a Lone Turtle. Will it Survive?
Every visit to Gir Wildlife Sanctuary throws up surprises. This time it was a chance sighting of three subadult Asiatic Lions, trying to feast on a seemingly helpless but extremely hardy Indian Flapshell Turtle
Wild Vault
Yellow-lipped Sea Krait: Facts, Diet, Habitat
Infographic
Andaman Day Gecko: Facts, Diet, Habitat
All you need to know about this island inhabitant
Infographic
Common Krait: Facts, Venom, Habitat
All you need to know about this venomous, nocturnal snake
Infographic
Friends or Foes: Kraits of India
Kraits remain somewhat of an enigma. Here's a peek into their world.
Multimedia
Vine Snakes: Facts, Habitat, Threats
All you need to know about these slender serpents
Infographic
Hump-nosed Pit Viper: Facts, Habitat, Venom
All you need to know about this nocturnal, venomous snake
Infographic
Galathea Bay: Will the World's Largest Sea Turtle Return to Nest in India?
Isolated from the mainland, the world’s largest turtles, the leatherbacks have nested along Galathea bay's pristine coast for millions of years. However, in January 2021 the protected status of the sanctuary was canceled for the construction of a transshipment port. If the development of the port goes through, will the turtles return?
Video
Strategy and Stealth: The Everyday Life of a Marsh Crocodile
Along the banks of the Ken River, a cold-blooded predator quietly waits. The marsh crocodile lays motionless for hours, but once it sets its eyes on prey, it strikes within seconds
Video
Little File Snake: The Silent Predator
Harmless to humans but often mistaken for a venomous sea snake, the little file snake lives mostly in brackish mangrove swamps though it sometimes wanders out to open sea as well
Species
Shot of Poison: Kraits of India
No other snake, except the king cobra, evokes as strong a sense of fear as the medically important krait does
Photo Story
Wildlife Puzzle: Green Pit Viper
Put together this jigsaw to see a fascinating pit viper in the Sundarbans
Interactive
King Cobra: The Ruling Serpent of Fields and Forests
The longest of all venomous snakes in the world is also very shy, unless it’s time to hunt
Video
The Land of Naga Bana
Herpetologist Gowri Shankar, who has spent a lifetime studying and protecting the king cobra, demystifies the remarkable relationship between serpent and human
Video
Indian Rock Python: Facts, Diet, Habitat
All you need to know about peninsular India's largest constrictor snake
Infographic
Indian Rock Python: Of Legends and Leather Bags
Though the law gives it the highest level of protection, stigma and fear continue to threaten the survival of this species
Species
Leatherback Sea Turtles: Giants of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Recent monitoring and scientific data from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on these remarkable reptiles give us hope and must deepen our resolve to continue to protect this very critical habitat
Conservation
The Conservation Paradox: Missing the Meadows for the Green Turtles
Seagrass ecosystems support marine organisms which use the meadows as foraging and breeding habitats. Green sea turtles have depleted some of these habitats, creating a conservation dilemma
Conservation
Leatherback Turtle: Facts, Habitat, Migration
All you need to know about the largest turtle in the world
Infographic
Common Venomous Reef Creatures of the Shallow Seas
Among the multitude of fish on reefs are a vast array of venomous stingers. Though most use their poison in self-defence and to hunt, they will also strike at perceived threats
Photo Story
Gharials Lose Nesting Sites at Katerniaghat
Growth of vegetation along the banks of the Girwa River has adversely affected the nesting of gharials
Conservation
Green Sea Turtle: Facts, Habitat, Ocean Life
All you need to know about the only herbivorous sea turtle
Infographic
Written in the Stars: A Night with the Leatherback Turtle
When the sun sets along Great Nicobar’s Galathea coast, the world’s largest turtle emerges from the waters to build a nest on its silver shore
Photo Story
No Faking It: This Crocodile’s Tears are Tears of Grief
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment and conservation
Green Humour
Studying Snakes through Radio Telemetry
Emerging as an easier and more precise way to track and study snakes than traditional observation methods
Wild Vault
Galathea: A Threatened Paradise at the Edge of the World
Far away from all civilisation, at the southernmost tip of Indian territory, leatherback turtles have a huge nesting site. Will plans for a new port transform this pristine landscape forever?
Habitat
Vanishing Act: The Slow Decline of Cantor’s Giant Softshell Turtle
The turtle has been shrouded in mystery for too long — it is rarely spotted, we know little about its ecology, except that its numbers are declining across its range
Species
A Hidden Life: The Impressed Tortoise in Central Arunachal Pradesh
When a rare, land-dwelling tortoise materialises out of nowhere in a small area of the Northeast, there is cause for celebration and conservation
Species
Spectacled Cobra: An Unwilling Icon
Though worshipped, venerated, vilified, adored, and feared, this snake isn’t quite understood
Species
Andaman Day Gecko: Fleet-footed Flecks of Green
Endemic to the Andaman Islands this gecko has learnt to adapt and thrive on banana plantations
Species
Wildlife Puzzle: Olive Ridley Turtle
Put together this jigsaw to see an olive ridley turtle take a dip in Odisha
Interactive
A Dog-Faced Water Snake’s Murky Life
Is it a dog? Is it a snake? Meet the dog-faced water snake. This unique snake gets its name from its compressed snout, which helps it survive in slush and salt. Watch this film of the nocturnal wanderer of the mangroves
Video
Indian Rat Snake: Nature’s Own Pest Control
An active, adaptable predator that keeps a check on many of the pests that thrive around us, this common snake also becomes prey for cobras, mongooses and raptors
Species
When the King Doesn’t Strike
Capable of immense restraint, the world's longest venomous snake is way more intelligent than we think
Book
Dog-faced water snake: Facts, Diet, Habitat
All you need to know about this mangrove specialist
Infographic
Checkered Keelback: Facts, Diet, Habitat
All you need to know about this freshwater snake
Infographic
Indian Chameleon and the Art of Disappearing
A lightning-fast tongue and unique capacity to camouflage itself are just two of this creature’s highly specialised adaptations
Species
At Home with Herps: Living with Reptiles
How a herpetologist fell in love with the natural world by observing snakes, lizards, frogs and other reptiles around his home
Urban Jungle
Indian Flapshell Turtle: Facts, Lifespan, and Illegal Trade
All you need to know about this pond predator
Infographic
Mettle of the Mugger: How the Marsh Crocodile Balances Stealth, Strategy and Surprise
Hunting is not all brawn. It is a fine balance of patience, intelligence and strategy
Photo Story
Snakes Can Be Friends Too
Wildlife cartoonist Rohan Chakravarty collaborates with the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust for a book that asks children to make friends with snakes, but from a safe distance
Book
Gharials Make a Comeback in Punjab
Forty five gharials brought from a captive breeding centre in Madhya Pradesh have been rehabilitated into the Beas river
News
Gaping Gharials: River Reptile with the Super Snout
Though critically endangered, there is hope for this gentle, slender-jawed, fish-loving cousin of the crocodile
Photo Story
The Wild Stars of South India
A smattering of creatures large and small that make an appearance in the latest field guide by the authors
Book
Bengal Monitor Lizard: Facts, Habitat, and Illegal Trade
All you need to know about the common monitor lizard or the Bengal monitor
Infographic
Eel Hunter: The Amphibious Life of Sea Kraits
With a specialised taste for eels, these venomous sea snakes hold their breath underwater for up to thirty minutes when on their perpetual hunting excursions
Species
Growing With the Flow: The River Pamba and I
How childhood swimming lessons in Thalavady’s Pamba river revealed secrets of Kerala’s backwaters, and introduced the writer to wonders of the wild
Wild Vault
Predator in the Pond: Indian Flapshell Turtle
Though these small turtles are camouflaged and instinctively hide on the edges of waterbodies to ambush their prey, they face a perilous future
Species
Olive Ridley Turtle: Facts, Diet, and Nesting
All you need to know about the most abundant sea turtles in the world
Infographic
Sea Turtles: Ancient Mariners of the Indian Ocean
These magnificent air-breathing reptiles have lived on earth for millions of years. Four of the seven known species of sea turtles nest in significant numbers on the Indian coastline and its outlying islands
Photo Story
The Guide: Ken Gharial Sanctuary
Come for the gharials, but stay for the vultures, the spectacular waterfalls, colourful rocks, and dramatic canyon
Travel
Mugger: River Monster or Peaceful Giant?
Seen as dangerous predators and banished from most of their original habitats, marsh crocodiles suffer a perilous existence in India today
Species
Lost and Found: A Quest to Revive the Rare Batagur Baska
How a breeding programme in the Sundarbans is bringing the critically endangered batagur baska back from the brink of extinction
Video
Marsh Crocodile: Facts, Size, Lifespan
Learn all you need to know about the mugger, an opportunistic feeder and apex predator
Infographic
Hump-nosed Pit Viper: Gem on the Forest Floor
Deep in the forests of the northern Western Ghats, Castle Rock is a hotspot for reptiles and amphibians, and the perfect location to find and study this elusive nocturnal pit viper
Species
Romulus Whitaker: A Life Less Ordinary
He’s hugged crocodiles, rescued snakes, and even snuck two king cobras on a long-distance train. Watch Roundglass Sustain Editor-in-Chief Megha Moorthy interview the Snake Man of India
Video
Hiss and Tell: The Dank, Slippery World of Water Snakes in India
Found in a variety of waterbodies, from streams and swamps to water-logged agricultural fields and the intertidal zone, aquatic snakes have a great affinity for water
Photo Story
Fear and Fascination on the Trail of the Mugger
Marsh crocodiles are stealthy creatures and apex predators of their environment, that can elicit both admiration and a panic response
Species
Saltwater Crocodile: Dragons of the Sundarbans Swamps
Basking in the sun, the saltwater crocodile is a study in stillness but once it enters the brackish waters of the Sundarbans, it is the top aquatic predator
Species
Why Horned Lizards Shoot Blood
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
Croc Creche: Why Crocodilian Males Make Great Babysitters
Breaking gender stereotypes, tough bull crocs often pitch in to take care of hatchlings. Scientists believe they could be showing off their potential as future mating partners
Column
Saltwater Crocodile: Facts, Size, Bite Force, Habitat
All you need to know about the world's largest living reptile
Infographic
Water Monitor Lizard: Facts, Strength, Habitat
All you need to know about the second-largest lizard in the world
Infographic
Northern River Terrapin: Habitat, Conservation, Lifespan
All you need to know about this four-toed terrapin
Infographic
Spot-tailed Pit Viper: The Covert Operator of Coringa
Behind the opaque mangrove curtain of Coringa, a covert operator waits, silently for days on end, for unsuspecting prey to show up. Meet the mangrove forest's ambush predator — the spot-tailed pit viper
Video
Monitor Lizards: Unsung Dragons of the Indian Subcontinent
Though monitor lizards are routinely captured for meat and body parts, basic ecological and behavioural information on these large reptiles is lacking
Conservation
Evolutionary Anomalies: Killing and Eating Your Kind
When king cobras eat other king cobras — strange stories of animal cannibalism
Column
Kartik Shanker: Researcher, Ecologist, Storyteller
Kartik Shanker juggles many roles — ecologist, children’s writer, founder of Dakshin Foundation, editor of a conservation magazine — all rooted firmly in decades of field research
Hero
Ecotourism, and the Olive Ridley Turtles of Dapoli
In coastal Maharashtra, conservationists navigate the impacts of beach-loving travellers on this vulnerable reptile
Conservation
Dwarf Geckos: Life in the Shadows
The discovery of three new species of rock-dwelling dwarf geckos (genus Cnemaspis) from the Mysore Plateau reveals the ancient history of these habitats
News
Dazzled by the Golden Gecko: Dainty Lizard of the Ruins
For over 100 years, scientists thought the golden gecko was extinct, until it was rediscovered in 1985. Spotting it amidst the ruins of an old fort is as good as finding treasure
Species
Urban Ecosystems: Snakes and the City
Unbeknown to most of us, snakes are often permanent residents of urban environments. We have to find the happy balance of human-snake coexistence
Urban Jungle
Bringing Freshwater Turtles out of their Shells and into the Spotlight
With more than 50 per cent of freshwater turtles threatened with extinction, Freshwater Turtles and Tortoises of India, a collective, is drawing attention to these lesser studied species
Conservation
The Indian Egg Eating Snake Orders Food
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
Crackdown on Illegal Wildlife Trade Could Prevent the Next Pandemic
Investigations show that meat of protected turtle species is sold in several markets in India. Such ‘wet markets’ present an acute health hazard and need to be looked into urgently in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic
Conservation
Anamalai Wood Snake: New Species Found in the Western Ghats
Scientists had previously noted slight differences in the Perroteti’s wood snake found in the northern and southern hill ranges of the Western Ghats, but further analyses reveal that specimens collected from the Anamalai hills, in the southern ranges, are a new species altogether
News
Sun and Sand: Spiny-Tailed Lizard’s Day Out
The sun is up in the Thar desert, and cold-blooded spiny-tailed lizards need to step out of their burrow to warm up. But hungry predators lurk just around the corner. Will the alert spiny get away?
Video
The Dark Knight: Enigma of the Common Krait
Its reputation is deadly, but how does the common krait take your breath away?
Species
Dog-faced Water Snake: Sludge and Salt in the Intertidal Zone
With their home in coastal mangroves, South Asian bokadams have adapted to sidewinding their way through the murk and slush of their watery habitat
Species
Why is That Floating Log Looking at Us?
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
I Want It All: The Checkered Keelback’s Game Plan
This semi-aquatic snake is ready to pounce on almost anything, even creatures it can’t really hope to swallow
Species
Croc Talk: Of Salt, Scales, and Swamps
The estuarine or saltwater crocodile is a mighty beast with a long lifespan and formidable reputation
Species
Turning the Tide: The Batagur Baska and the Race Against Extinction
How a conservationist and his team in the Sundarbans brought the batagur, one of the most endangered turtle species in the world, back from the brink
Conservation
Miracle on a Beach: A Night with the Ancients
The arribada or the mass nesting of olive Ridleys is nothing short of magic. Year after year, the turtles return to the land, to the very beach they were born in, to lay eggs
Species
Marina Juliet: A Conservationist in the Making
Marina Juliet defies gender stereotypes as she trains to become a grassroots conservationist in rural Karnataka
Hero
Your Solution to a Bug-Free Home
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
Clash of the Titans: When the King Cobra Meets a Rock Python
In the world of reptiles, boundaries between predator and prey are sometimes blurred
Species
A Half Century of Sea Turtle Conservation
Contrary to popular belief, sea turtles are doing better than they have in decades, and we may need to rethink how to conserve them
Column
Tactical Tails: Life Moves in Slow Motion for the Spiny-tailed Lizard
With a fat tail that is both a boon and bane, this herbivorous reptile has adapted well to a hot, arid habitat
Species
Petite but Deadly: Secrets of the Saw-scaled Viper
A relatively tiny snake with extremely potent venom and the ability to make loud, raspy warning sounds, make this one of the most enigmatic of the big four dangerous snakes of India
Species
Living Dragons: Weapons, Defences and the Water Monitor Lizard
Though this predator is the second-largest lizard in the world, and very well adapted to the tropical environment it lives in, it is not at the top of the food chain
Species
The Ultimate Survivor: The Swagger of the Bengal Monitor
The Bengal monitor lizard is an extraordinary survivor. It has roamed the planet for over 50 million years, battling storms, floods, droughts. Watch the scaly, cold-blooded predator swagger across India’s forests
Video
Airworthy Athletes: Here Fly Dragons
When a creature with cyptic colouring hurls itself off a branch — sailing through the forest, flying between trees
Column
Of Forked Tongues and Scaling Fort Walls: Story of the Bengal Monitor Lizard
The Bengal monitor lizard could be a useful ally in human dominated landscapes, if only its population wasn’t being decimated as a result of baseless beliefs and myths
Species
The Skin of Many Colours: Morphs of the Malabar Pit Viper
Why it’s not easy to identify this snake species and the mystery of its diverse and changing colours
Photo Story
Meet Spiny, the Only Herbivorous Lizard Species in India
How the spiny-tailed lizard copes with its habitat in the desert and its many predators
Species
Arribada: The Mystery of the Olive Ridley Turtle Migration
How do these gentle sea creatures navigate thousands of kilometres to find the beach where they were born?
Wild Vault
Southern Flying Lizard: Facts, Size, Habitat
Everything you need to know about the flying dragons of the Western Ghats
Infographic
Russell’s Vipers: Predators of the Undergrowth
A radio telemetric study explores the life and behaviour of this elusive, cryptic and hugely misunderstood snake
Species
Malabar Pit Viper: Facts, Venom, Size
All you need to know about this stealthy, silent predator of the night
Infographic
Silent Knight: How the Malabar Pit Viper Hunts in the Dark
The Malabar pit viper is a study in stillness. It remains motionless, waiting for its prey for hours, even days. But when the time is right, it strikes with lightning speed
Video
Wardens of Venom: The Exquisite Vipers of South India
Tipping the scales in favour of some of India’s most misunderstood reptiles
Photo Story
King Cobra: Facts, Venom, Habitat
All you need to know about the world's longest venomous snake
Infographic
The Flying Dragons of South India
Draco, also known as the southern flying lizard, is a master of disguise. But it has another astounding trick up its sleeve
Video
Shadow in the Sand: Encountering the Toad-headed Agama in Ladakh
Once listed as common, the toad-headed agama is now a rare creature in its native habitat of Ladakh
Species
Leaf Masquerade of the Vine Snake
In the jungles of Agumbe long-held myths about the vine snake slither into the underbrush
Species
On the Fly: An Afternoon with the Dragon Lizards of Agumbe
You can never tire of watching the smooth, precise gliding motion of draco lizards as they ‘fly’ from tree to tree
Species
The Sea Turtle’s Annual Reunion
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
A New Vine Snake Called Proahaetulla Slithers Into View
In the Agasthyamalai Hills in the southern Western Ghats scientists confirm the discovery of an ancient species of vine snake
News
Anatomy of a King Cobra Rescue in Agumbe
Witnessing a kalinga snake being rescued, it becomes apparent that communication and cooperation are essential to conservation
Wild Vault
Gharials of Gandak: A Population Back from the Brink Faces Development Pressures
The population of gharials, a species endemic to the Indian subcontinent, has gone up in the recent years in the Gandak river in Bihar. However, the thriving gharials are facing threats from barrage and fishing nets
News
Flying Wizard: Draco the Gliding Lizard
With a little yellow dewlap flag for communication, wing-like extensions to parachute through the forest, and cryptic camouflage, the southern flying lizard is no ordinary reptile
Species
King Cobra: The World’s Longest Venomous Snake
How does the cannibalistic, snake-eating king cobra manage to multiply and survive?
Species
Malabar Pit Viper: Ambush in the Well of Life and Death
Occurring in an array of different colours, the nocturnal Malabar pit viper is a keen hunter that is endemic to the rainforests of the Western Ghats
Species
Chronicles of the Forest Calotes
This quick little lizard lives in forest trees of the Western Ghats. The male turns into a blushing red groom when it’s time to attract the ladies
Species
Secret Serpent: The Life and Times of the Malabar Pit Viper
Though it is the most common and widespread of pit vipers in south India, the Malabar pit viper is only seen in the wet season, disappearing mysteriously in dry weather
Conservation
Canny Crocodiles: Our Planet’s Oldest Living Creatures
It’s no surprise that crocs have been around for millions of years. These intelligent creatures continue to be the apex predator in nearly every landscape they inhabit
Wild Vault
Gowri Shankar: Snake Man Under the Spell of the King Cobra
In the heart of the rainforests of Agumbe there’s a man on a mission — to share his knowledge of the wild with students, and contribute to the preservation of reptiles
Hero
Assam Roofed Turtle: Facts, Habitat, Threats
Everything you need to know about Assam's threatened turtle
Infographic
A Green Turtle takes the Bottle Cap Challenge
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
A Wild Life: Rauf Ali’s Forest Adventures
Following leatherback sea turtles, tree shrews, and crab-eating macaques — in Running Away From Elephants readers get a rare glimpse into celebrated wildlife biologist Rauf Ali’s wild adventures
Book
The Snake and I: Decoding the Work of Gerry Martin
Addressing snake-human conflict is just one aspect of herpetologist Gerry Martin’s goal of making conservation a way of life
Hero
How’s Your Sense of Direction?
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
A Terrible Case of Draco Envy
Cartoons and illustrations on wildlife, environment, and conservation
Green Humour
Buzz and Snap: A Gharial in the Bend of the River
This fish-eating crocodile, with a pot on its long snout, struggles for survival in the rivers of the Indian subcontinent
Species