In addition to mammals and birds, Satpura tiger reserve forest is also known for reptile species. It is part of a biosphere reserve thus in this forest, we may find newly unnoticed reptile species and some amazing creatures of earth. As per park management team, here we can find 31 reptile species and this count will further rise as many species are still undiscovered and likely to be discovered in coming years. With the expansion of tourism, more wildlife experts are now entering into the Satpura tiger reserve areas thus tourism will help in discovery of new species and thus increase in reptiles count.
Here we have prepared a list of reptile species found in Satpura tiger reserve area. When we say tiger reserve area then it includes Satpura national park and its adjoining wildlife sanctuaries which are part of tiger reserve thus it means it includes Bori wildlife sanctuary, Pachmarhi wildlife sanctuary etc. Give list contains some short physical description, habitat and conservation status information thus given list is more helpful to enhance your knowledge and understanding. We will keep on updating it with the availability of new updates and information.
| Name | Scientific Name | Features | Habitat | Status |
| Mugger Crocodile | Crocodylus Palustris | Broad-snouted crocodile, dary grey color | Seen in freshwater lakes, Denwa river, marshes, Tawa dam backwater, islands | Vulnerable |
| Indian Peacock Soft-shelled Turtle | Nilssonia hurum | Olive green from above | Highly aquatic, seen on Denwa river, Tawa dam backwater | Vulnerable |
| Indian Roofed Turtle | Pangshura tecta | Its pointed roof top make it distinct | We can search them ast still or slow moving streams. Tawa dam backwater is its habitat | Least concern |
| Brook's House Gecko | Hemicactylus brookii | Large head, pointed snout. Back with light to greyish brown with dark brown spots. | Insectivorous, seen in trees and rocks. Seen nearby villages | Least concern |
| Yellow-green House Gecko | Hemidactylus frenatus | 70-150 mm Length. Males are larger than female, semi-transparent skin. | Found in tropical, subtropical & warm places with high humidity | Least concern |
| Common House Gecko | Hemidactylus frenatus | Length:3-6 inches, non-venomous, feed on insects, butterflies etc. | Mostly seen in warm & humid places. Commonly seen in rooms. | Least concern |
| Indian Garden Lizard / Oriental Garden Lizard | Calotes versicolor | Light brown to greyesh abovem Black traversa bar on throat | Arboreal, insectivorous. Seen close to streams, gardens. Seen in Tala zone. | Least concern |
| Indian Chameleon (Local name: Girgit) | Chamaeleo zeylanicus | Long tongue, compressed teeth, short neck, compressed body 12-15 inches length | Non-posinous, often seen in garden areas | Least concern |
| Keeled Grass Skink | Eutropis carinata | Moderate snout, scaly lover eyelid, vertebral scales smooth | Seen in scrub forest, garden, houses. Often seen in resort campus, Madhai village | Least concern |
| Bronze Skink | Eutropis macularia | Cylindrical body, oval eyes, olive brown in color | Often seen in Madhia zone rocky regions, Parsapani buffer forest | Least concern |
| White-spotted Supple Skink | Lygosoma albopunctata | Its snout is short & obtuse, tail is thick. They have 26-28 scales in middle body. Body colour pale brown or rufous. | Found in open soil without plantation like surrounding villages of Madhai gate | Not Evaluated |
| Lined Supple Skink | Lygosoma lineata | Length: 5-6 cm, body colour is golden yellow with black dots on scales. | Seen in rocks, loose soil, termite mounds, ant hills | Least concern |
| Punctate Supple Skink | Lygosoma punctata | Body size 35-100mm, olive brown from above | Usually seen in gardens, open forest, nearby human settlements | Not Evaluated |
| Bengal Monitor | Varanus bengalensis | Grey to greenish grey in color, dark grey ventral pattern.Weight=7.20kg, Length= 60-170 cms | Diurnal activity, live in burrows. Feeds insects, small mammals, snakes, lizards, vegetables | Least concern |
| Common Sand Boa | Eryx conicus | Length=80-100 cm, dorsal scales are small & keeled, pointed tail | Feed on small mammals, worms, birds. Normally found on sandy tracks, viviparous, nocturnal | Near threatened |
| Red Sand Boa | Eryx johnii | Thick body, broad head, wide shovel shaped tip, white belly, reddish brown top with speckled grey tail | More active in nights, mainly found in dry forest, sandy soil. Feeds rodents thus found nearby villages. | Near threatened |
| Indian Rock Python | Python molurus | Length=2.5-4.5 mtr.Head distinct from neck, vertical pupil, 60-75 rows of scale | Found in rocky outcrops, marshy area, open forest. Feed mainly warm blooded prey like mice to jackal, civet, deer fawn, cat etc. | Near threatened |
| Banded Racer | Argyrogena fasciolata | Snout is curved, obtuse and prominent. Eyes are large. Brownish olive from above, narrow white, brown, black cross bands. Length=30-55 inches. | Its a non-venomous snake, diurnal species, seen in dry grasslands, scrub forest. Possibility to see in Jamanidev, Parsapani & Pachmarhi buffer zone zone. | Least concern |
| Trinket Snake | Coelognathus helena | Non-venomous snake, smooth glossy scales, slender body. | Seen in plains, hills, nearby waterholes, bushes, termite mounds. rocks. | Not Evaluated |
| Common Bronzeback Tree Snake | Dendrelaphis tristis | Excellent vision, non venomous snake. Slender body, wide brownish stripe on upper body & yellowish stripe in bottom body. | As per name seen in trees, bushes of forest & near by villages of Madhai gate & Bheemkund gate. | Least concern |
| Indian Wolf Snake | Lycodon aulicus | Colour variation is possible. Seems like common krait except loreal shield. Female larger than male. | Nocturnal by nature. Seen in lowland forest, rocks, trees. Terrestrial and arboreal both. | Not Evaluated |
| Banded Kukri Snake | Oligodon arnensis | Have dark bands in body. Color varies from pale brown to orange from above. Body lenght 2 ft. | Seen n forested plains, moist deciduous forest, scrub forest, agricultural fields. | Not Evaluated |
| Indian Ratsnake | Ptyas mucosa | Length= 1.5 - 2.5 meters. Body colour varies from pale brown to dark brown. They are diurnal | Often seen nearby villages, agricultural fields. Often seen in villages nearby Madhai gate. | Least concern |
| Buff striped keelback | Amphiesma stolatum | Non-venomous & non-agressive snake. Body color olive brown to grey, length is 40-50 cms. | Seen in moist lands, water wells, canals, low lands, hills. Often seen close to Tawa dam cachement area. | Least concern |
| Checkered Keelback | Xenochrophis piscator | Body is olivaceus or yellowish above, whitish to yellowish below. Upper skin is checkered with dark & yellowish checks.Length -1.75 mtr. | Usually found near waterholes like wells, rivers, streams, wet rice fields. Feed on tadpoles, insects, fishes, rodents, birds etc. | Not Evaluated |
| Common Krait | Bungaruscaeruleus | Length is under 1 to 2 meters. Dark brownish rings separated by pale yellow rngs. Highly venomous snake with flat head | Usually seen in fields & low scrub jungles. Very less active in daytime thus nocturnal. Often seen in rat holes, near debries. Feed on rodents, mice, frog. | Not Evaluated |
| Comman Indian Cobra | Naja naja | Highly venomous snake with elliptical head, short snout. Two circular ocelli patters connected in V shape. Length 1-1.5 mtr. | Found in all type of places open field, villages of Pathai, . Feed on lizard, frogs, small snakes, rodents, birds. Active in evening, rare sighting. | Threatened |
| King Cobra | Ophiophagus hannah | Life span 20 years, length 3-4 meters, body weight 6 kg, highly venomous, monogamous. | Usually seen solitary at ground, bamboo thickets, agricultural field, open forest. Its sightins is not easy in Satpura national park | Vulnerable |
| Brahminy Blindsnake | Indotyphlops braminus | Length= 2-5 inches, head & tail seems similar. Body colour ranges from charcoal grey to light yellow. | Usually seen in agricultural fields, nearby termite mounds, ant hill, garden areas, humid places. | Least concern |
| Russell's Viper | Daboia russelii | Length = 3-5 ft.Snout obtuse with distinct canthus, large nostril, light brown above, oval spots brown in center, highly venomous. | Found in dry & marshy regions, grasslands, farmlands. Nocturnal & feed on snakes, mice, lizards, rodents etc. | Least concern |
| Bamboo Pit Viper | Trimeresurus gramineus | Venomous snake with rostral scale, upper part bright green, yellow or red streak along the outer row of scales, end tail frequently yellow or red | Not seen in bamboo thicket but arboreak sname found in low to medium bushes or trees, nearby some stream. Nocturnal by nature, does ambush attack, aggressive nature. | Near Threatened Remove |
| Saw-scaled Viper | Echis carinatus | Venomous snake, body length 30-90 cm, snout is short and rounded. Feed on worms, frog, toads, reptiles, scorpions, birds | Mostly nocturnal, found in rocks, rooten logs, bushes, shurbs, burrows. | Least concern |
At Satpura tiger reserve, we covers hardly 20% of the area through safari drives thus large area is untouched and not closely covered by wildlife experts. Still here we have collected the information from local safari guides and trying to put light on some good reptile sighting areas. Some of the popular reptiles sighting areas are like Tynam pool, Madhai entry gate surrounding area, Lagda camp area, Jhinjhini mahal hill, Saunders pool, Churna campus area, Dodalpani, Machli talab etc.
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