India is home to both the subspecies under the genus Python, but the distribution of these two subspecies within the state of West Bengal has been debated for ages. Once it was believed that Python molurus molurus inhabits only in the drier parts of the state, while the other subspecies Python molurus bivittatus occupies the wetter areas. But recent discoveries of large specimens of both the species from places where they are not supposed to occur has questioned the present theory on their distribution. Now the question is, is it a simple case of incorrect identification? Or there is more to the story. Could this mean that both the species has always been there side by side, and its just because of lack of fieldwork that we don’t know about their actual distribution. In northern West Bengal it is a know fact that above the 25’N latitude Burmese pythons or Burms ( as we call it in the field) occurs. But strangely many rescuers in north Bengal believes they have seen both the species. Although when it comes to hardcore evidence like photographs, its always been lacking. Personally even during my field works in the region I have never come across any Indian pythons so far. Now there is a possibility of an animal escaping captivity or a confiscated animal being released without proper identification, in such cases when the animal is recaptured it is advisable to conduct proper examinations with photo documentation before release. The chances of such cases gets even bigger as most of the pythons that are collected by poachers are from the three bordering states, namely Bihar, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh, and all three are known to have Python molurus molurus only.
If that is the case then how are we going to explain the occurrence of Burms in southern west Bengal and Sunderbans. Yes, there are Burmese pythons even around Kolkata itself. In the year 2008, a specimen, not more than 8ft long, got caught up in a fish net in the east Kolkata wetlands. I have personally checked the photographs, and it was indeed a Burm. But what exactly happened to that specimen? According to the newspaper reports, the snake was later caught by the department staff and was released at Bethuadohori wildlife sanctuary in Nadia district, which is known to have a good population of Python molurus molurus! This is where I say the problem lies. Now if that particular animal is captured or photographed in near future, what will be the consequences? With our poor record keeping system , it will certainly lead to confusion, that will further complicate our understanding about choice of habitat among pythons in Bengal.
If u ask me, I would say it is really not that difficult identifying the two subspecies. Here is how one should be doing it. In Burmese pythons there is presence of a enlarged scale (sometimes two) right above the upper lip and below the eye, which we call the “subocular” that touches the supralabial, usually the 6th and 7th , while in subspecies molurus the subocular is simply absent and the 7th supralabial touches the eye (shown in the hand sketch). Although identification by color and patterns is never a sure way of determining a species among reptiles because of huge variations that occurs in individuals of the same species depending on the geography, even so molurus is known to have a much lighter and pale brown coloration with a pinkish tinge at the back of the head, while Burms are famous for their dark coloration with yellow and dark brown black patches all over and a very distinct lance shaped marking on top of its head.
To be Contd: Python Mystery: The Retic Story
Please note that this article is not written to question anyone’s credibility, it is simply to encourage the forest department of our country and the people who are working in the field as rescuers to be a bit more responsible and scientific in their approach.
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