REPORT OF KERALA MUD SNAKE DIEUROSTUS DUSSUMIERII FROM A BEACH IN KOCHI, KERALA

Abstract

The Kerala mud snake Dieurostus dussumierii (Dumeril, Bibron & Dumeril, 1854) is a little-known Homalopsid water snake endemic to southwestern Indian coastal plains (Chandramouli et al., 2012; Kumar & Captain, 2011; Kumar et al ., 2012). Precise locality records are from Thrissur to Thiruvananthapuram. Based on a recent molecular study (Kumar et al ., 2012), its generic allocation was reassessed and was changed from Enhydris to Dieurostus . It is locally known as “kanda pampu” (paddy snake) in southern Kerala and “cheli kutta” (mud snake) in the north, suggesting its affinity towards inhabiting freshwater marshlands and water-logged paddy fields (Chandramouli et al., 2012; Kumar & Captain, 2011). In this note, I report my record of Kerala mud snake from a sandy beach stretch adjoining the seacoast in Kochi, Kerala.