Common name: Scorpion
Tamil Name: நட்டுவக்காலி 

Scientific name:  Palamnaeus species

Photo credit: B. S. Karthikeyan

 Photo shot at: Nearby Arumbagam (Guest-House), BDU  

Description: (Will be updated after complete identification)

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Common name: Stink Bug

Scientific name: Erthesina acuminate

Photo credit: B. S. Karthikeyan

Photo shot at: Lobby of Mahatma Gandhi-Doerenkamp Center, BDU

It is from the family Pentatomidae, consisting of Shield bugs and Stink bugs. It can be seen early morning under cloudy and canopy conditions or after rain.

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Common name: Yellow Pansy

Scientific name: Junonia hierta

Photo credit: D. Mahamuni

  Photo shot at: Near University main entrance

It is usually seen in open scrub and grassland habitats. It is a species of Nymphalidae butterfly found in the Palaeotropics. 

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Common name: Indian Skipper

Scientific name: Spialia galba

Photo credit: D.Mahamuni and B. S. Karthikeyan

 Photo shot at: Nearby canteen & Bush and pond opposite to Porunai Hostel, BDU.  

Also called as Indian Grizzled Skipper. The butterfly is very common in India up to an altitude of 1800m. When sunny, the butterfly is found flying close to the ground and basking with the wings partly open. The fore-wing is partly closed while the hind wing is held fully open. It rests with wings closed. 

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Common name: Giant Indian Velvet Mite or Rain Bug
Tamil Name: இந்திரகோபம் 

Scientific name: Trombidium grandissimum

Photo credit: Satgurunathan 

Photo shot at: Nearby Dept. of Plant Science, BDU.  

This bug commonly seen after rain and the oil from this red velvet mite called "Teej" in Hindi which is used in traditional Indian medicine to treat paralysis.

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 Common name: Common Hawk-Cuckoo/Brainfever bird

Scientific name: Hierococcyx varius 

Photo credit: Manoj Kumar.K and B. S. Karthikeyan

Photo shot at: Nearby Cauvery mens hostel, BDU 

This is a medium-sized cuckoo resident in the Indian Subcontinent. It closely resembles to the Shikra (a sparrow hawk) even in its style of flying and landing on a perch resembles to it and gives this group the generic name of hawk-cuckoo and like many other cuckoos these are brood parasites, laying their eggs in nests of babblers. During their breeding season in summer males produce loud, repetitive three note calls that are well-rendered as brain-fever, the second note being longer and higher. The cuckoo shown in this photo is a little immature one. During the photo shoot, Babblers were feeding it. 

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Common name: Termite Hill Gecko

Scientific name: Hemidactylus scabriceps

Photo credit: B. S. Karthikeyan
Photo shot at: Near Center for Distance Education, BDU

This species of gecko found in South Asia especially Sri Lanka, Pakistan (Karachi eastward), India and Sri Lanka. Nocturnal in nature and like all other geckos these too have the ability to drop their tails only to re-grow the same eventually. Away from an urban setting, they are probably having their home under large stones or in crevices and burrows. They feed on a variety of insects which includes grasshoppers, crickets, beetles and termites. 

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 Common Name: Common Tiger/ Striped Tiger Butterfly

Scientific Name: Danaus genutia

Photo credit: Mahamuni

It is one of the common butterfly found in India. It belongs to the Brush-foote family, Danainae. Its called as striped tiger to differentiate from a similar species called common plain tiger, which lacks black lines in the wings. The cater pillars are brown, white and yellow-lined and have two horn-like structures in the forehead and two more horn-like structures on the middle parts of the body. This photo was shot nearby the School of Environmental Sciences.

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Common Name: Peacock Pansy

Scientific Name: Junonia almana

Photo Credit: D. Mahamuni

Photo Shot at: Backside of School of Environmental Sciences

This colourful butterfly also found all over India and throughout the seasons. It prefers waterside vegetation, scrubs, edges and gardens. The wings are with orange background and with prominent peacock eye spots. The eye spots  are smaller in fore wings and larger in hind wings. The wingspan is about 60-65mm. Margins of wings bordered by three lines. Lower side of wings look like leaves and seen with eye spots in wet seasons. 

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Common Name: Blue Tiger

Scientific Name: Tirumala limniace

Photo Credit: D.Mahamuni

Photo Shot at: Backside  of Bhavani Hostel

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Common Name: Common Pierrot

Scientific Name: Castalius rosimon

Photo credit: D.Mahamuni

Photo shot at: Back side of Vaigai Hostel

Found all over the year. Flies close to the ground rest on flowers and bird droppings. The wingspan is about 2-34mm. The underside wings are white with conspicuous black markings. Has white tip to the black tail in the hid wing. Similar to Rounded Pierrot but differentiated with black and white upperside, whereas rounded pierrot having brown upperside. Larvae feed on Zizypus sp. (இலந்தை  வகைத் தாவரங்கள் ).

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Common Name: Crimson Rose

Scientific Name: Pachliopta hector

Photo credit: D. Mahamuni

Photo shot at: Backside of Bhavani Hostel

Found in Indian subcontinent and Andaman islands. This also flies throughout the year. The normal wingspan is about 90-110mm. It prefers shady and thick forest areas. Sometimes seen with roosting congregations. Swallowtail with red spots in the hind wings and promoinent white bands in fore wings are recognised for identification. The Larvae feed on Aristolochia spp. (ஆடுதீண்டாபாலை).

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 Common Name: Common Crow

Scientific Name: Euploea core

Photo Credit: D.Mahamuni

Photo shot at: School of Environmental Sciences

This is one of the common butterfly found all the seasons.They have normal wingspan f about 85-95mm. Recognised by dark velvetty wings with two rows of cream-cloured marginal spots. The inner row of spots larger than the outer row. the caterpillars feed  on variety of plants. This photo was taken at School of Environmental Sciences. 

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Common name: Rose-ringed Parakeet

Tamil Name: பச்சைக் கிளி 

  Scientific name: Psittacula krameri

Photo shot at: Near Univ. canteen

Photo credit: Gladwin John

The Rose-ringed Parakeet is also known as the Ring-necked Parakeet. It is a gregarious tropical Afro-Asian parakeet species that habitat in extremely large range. Rose-ringed Parakeets are popular as pets. In memory of the Austrian naturalist Wilhelm Heinrich Kramer the scientific name declared as Psittacula krameri. This non-migrating species is one of few parrot species that have successfully adapted to living in 'disturbed habitats'. In the wild, Rose-ringed Parakeets usually feed on buds, fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries and seeds. In India, they feed on cereal grains, and during winter also on pigeon peas.

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Common name: Indian Golden Oriole

Tamil Name: மாங்குயில் 

Scientific name: Oriolus kundoo

Photo credit: B. S. Karthikeyan

Photo shot at: A bush and a pond opposite to Porunai Hostel, BDU  

Description: They feed on insects and fruit. They build neat nests in tree forks and lay 3–6 eggs. Indian Golden Oriole has a stripe extending behind the eye which differ it from Eurasian Golden Oriole.

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Common name: Spotted Dove

Scientific name: Streptopelia chinensis

Photo credit: Manoj kumar

Photo shot at: Cauvery mens hostel, BDU.

This species is found in light forests and gardens as well as in urban areas. They fly off from the ground with an explosive flutter and will sometimes glide down to a perch. It is sometimes also called the Mountain Dove, Pearl-necked Dove or Lace-necked Dove. 

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Common name: Indian Roller
Tamil Name: காடை 

Scientific name: Coracias benghalensis

Photo credit: B. S. Karthikeyan

Photo shot at: Open 1st floor of Mahatma Gandhi-Doerenkamp Center, BDU.

This is a member of roller family birds. A very common bird of India and is best known for aerobatic displays of the male during the breeding season. They are very commonly seen perched along roadside trees and wires and are commonly seen in open grassland and scrub forest habitats.

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Common name: Laughing Dove (Bird at left)

Scientific name: Streptopelia senegalensis

Photo credit: B. S. Karthikeyan

Photo shot at: Gallery, near Play ground, BDU
(The bird at the right is Indian Roller, see below)

This is often otherwise called as Little Brown Dove, common and widespread species in scrub, dry farmland. They are usually seen in pairs or small parties and only rarely in larger groups. Laughing Doves eat the fallen seeds, mainly of grasses, other vegetable matter and small ground insects such as termites and beetles.

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Common name: Blind snake

Tamil name: செவிட்டு  பாம்பு 

Binomial name: Ramphotyplops Species

Photo shot at: Near SBI bank, BDU

Photo credit: Gladwin John  

The most widespread terrestrial snake in the world. With a population comprised entirely of females, the blind snakes are one of only a few snake species known to reproduce through “Parthenogenesis”. This curious reproductive mode involves the female laying small clutches of thin-shelled, peanut-sized eggs without needing to mate. The unfertilized eggs then hatch into tiny snakes around 53 mm in length, all of which are female. Thus a single adult, transported half way around the world in a flowerpot, has the potential to start a whole new colony without the hassle of finding a mate. Live beneath the soil, stones and debris. Often seen inside houses. Supposed to enter the ear of people sleeping on the ground, hence the Tamil name ”Sevi pamboo” (ear snake).

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Common name: common wolf snake

Tamil Name: சங்கு  விரியன் 

Binomial name: Lycodon aulicus

Photo shot at: Near Cauvery men’s hostel
Photo Credit: Gladwin John

Often confused with the deadly “Krait”. The wolf snake has a distinct neck. It is often found in houses. It hides in crevices during the day and emerges at night. It frequently coils into heap and if worried will hide its head beneath the coils. It is an excellent climber, capable of climbing almost smooth vertical surfaces. Climbs walls and lives between the roof and ceiling and occasionally falling to the ground. Mainly feeds on geckos. 

 “It frequently coils into heap and if worried will hide its head beneath the coils”

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Common name: Common bronzeback

Tamil name: கொம்பேறி மூக்கன்  
Binomial name: Dendrelaphis tristis

Photo shot at: opposite to Research scholar’s hostel

Photo credit: Gladwin John  

The bronzeback is an arboreal snake, rarely coming to the ground. On ground, it moves with the fore body erect. It climbs trees with amazing speed. It is difficult to capture and has the ability to spring. A diurnal snake, feeds largely on lizards and tree frogs. It becomes quite tame in captivity.

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Common name: Russell’s kukri

Binomial name: Oligodon taeniolatus

Photo shot at: Near Language block, BDU

Photo credit: Gladwin John 

The most common snake in BDU. A slender, graceful snake, with no indication of neck and is uniform in girth. Largely diurnal, but mostly seen at night time in BDU. It feeds mainly on eggs of other reptiles and frogs. Five colour forms are found. It is a small snake. The largest measured about 58cm.

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Common name: common cat snake

Binomial name: Bioga trigonata

Photo shot at: Close to Elephant statue, BDU
Photo Credit: Gladwin John

At my first encounter with this snake, I misidentified it as “saw scaled Viper”. Both the snake looks similar. The cat snake has a slender and long body compared to the saw scaled viper. The cat snake is an arboreal snake, frequenting bushes and scrubs close to ground. A nocturnal snake and an excellent climber. If picked by the tail, climbs up its own body and bites. It vibrates the tail before striking. The striking pose is characteristic. 

The head and the fore body are erected above ground and thrown into figure-of-8 loop.

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Common name: Checkered keelback

Tamil name: தண்ணிப் பாம்பு

Binomial name:  Xenochrophis piscator

Photo shot at: Near Cauvery men’s hostel

Photo credit: Gladwin John 

It is the most common fresh water snake. Frequently found in water and is very common in tanks, paddy fields, pools and rivers. In swampy areas seen away from water. Generally aggressive, strikes with great determination, holding on tenaciously. Erects and flattens fore body before striking. It is very active and capable of jumping clear off the ground. Feeds mainly on frogs and fish. 

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Common name: Green vine snake

Tamil name: பச்சை பாம்பு 
Scientific name: Ahaetuella nasuta

Photo shot at: In front of Biotechnology department

Photo credit: Gladwin John

Description: An elegant snake with a wonderful turn of speed over foliage. Its usually a gentle snake, which can be fierce when freshly caught. When alarmed, it rears its head and fore body. The dilation of the fore body brings into view, the black and white chequering of the skin (see the below picture). It has a habit of striking in the eye because which is the only object in movement in a tree snake’s view. 

         The green vine is mildly venomous. In human, the venom has no significant effect. But occasionally, swelling and numbness of the bitten area may result.

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Common name: Saw Scaled Viper

Tamil Name: சுருட்டை விரியன்

Binomial name: Echis carinatus

Photo shot at: Near Elephant statue, BDU

Photo credit: Gladwin John  

Venom: Cytotoxic, anticoagulant

Arid region. This is the Smallest of the “big four”. The name is due to its serrated scales. One of the fastest striking snake in the world. It is capable of sidewinding in sandy areas. The striking posture is characteristic, a double coil in the form of 8, with the head at the center. The coil moves against each other and the serrated keels produce a hissing noise by friction 

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Common name: Russell’s Viper

Tamil name: கண்ணாடி விரியன்

Binomial name: Daboia russelii

Photo shot at: Close to Elephant statue, BDU

Photo credit: Gladwin John  

Venom: Cytotoxic

Preference for open country, common near human habitation. Russell’s viper is named in honor of Patrick Russell who is considered as “Father of Indian ophiology”. The Russell’s viper is normally sluggish, but when irritated strikes with agility. This snake is often confused with the Indian Rock python. Russell’s viper is viviparous. The fertilized eggs develop a white membrane which ruptures before delivery. 

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Common name: Common Krait

Tamil name: கட்டு விரியன்

Binomial name: Bangarus caeruleus

Photo shot at: Near the gallery in playground, BDU

Photo credit: Gladwin John 

Venom: Neurotoxic , haemotoxic

Fields, shrub jungles, common near human habitation. The Common krait is a nocturnal hunter. During the day it’s sluggish and doesn’t bite easily, but at night it’s highly active and dangerous. The bite is almost painless and often goes unnoticed with lethal consequences. There are several cases, where people sleeping on the ground are bitten and die in their sleep. The common krait is confused with the Common Wolf Snake. The Krait has no neck region while the wolf snake has a distinct neck. In Krait the top row of dorsal scales are “Hexagonal” which differs it from wolf snake. The hexagonal scale is marked in “red” above to make you understand.  

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Common name: Indian Cobra

Tamil name: நாகப் பாம்பு

Binomial name: Naja naja

Photo shot at: Lawn opposite to SBI, BDU

Photo credit: Gladwin John

Venom: Mainly Neurotoxic, blood and cell destroyer

Almost everywhere except arid deserts and hills above 1800 meters. The striking feature of the cobra is its hood, which is formed by elongated ribs. When alarmed or threatened the snake spreads its hood and prepares to defend itself. Cobra is misidentified as the Rat snake when the hood is not erect. It can be identified by the shape of its scales which are “wheat” shaped. Rat snake scales are like fish scales.

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Common name: Indian Marbled Balloon Frog

Scientific name: Uperodon systoma

Photo credit: B. S. Karthikeyan
Photo shot at: Opposite to Bharathidasan Statue, BDU

This is a species of narrow-mouthed frog which buries itself in soil. These frogs can be observed in a number of habitats, such as dry forests, plains, gardens, and agricultural areas. Adults are only seen during the summer monsoons; otherwise they retreat into the soil. Feeding may be concentrated to rainy nights during the monsoon when termites emerge to swarm. Breeding takes place during the monsoon rains when the males call from the banks of streams and paddy fields. Eggs are laid in water where they float. 

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Common name: Indian skipper frog

Scientific name: Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis

Photo credit: B. S. Karthikeyan
Photo shot at: A small puddle nearby Canteen, BDU

This frog is a very aquatic species found in marshes, pools and various other wetlands. They are often seen at the edge of bodies of water with their eyes above the water. They noisily move away from the shore when disturbed, giving them their common name. They are rarely seen outside water. 

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Common name: Common Asian Toad     

Scientific name: Duttaphrynus melanostictus

Photo credit: B. S. Karthikeyan
Photo shot at: Lobby of Mahatma Gandhi-Doerenkamp Center, BDU 

Photo credit: D.Mahamuni

Photo shot at: Near AC Auditorium, BDU 

Common toads occur widely throughout Asia. The species breeds during the monsoons and the tadpoles are black. Young toads may be seen in large numbers after the monsoons. Asian common toads breed in still and slow-flowing rivers and temporary and permanent ponds and pools. Adults are terrestrial and may be found under ground cover such as rocks, leaf-litter, logs, and are also associated with human habitations. The larvae are found in still and slow-moving water bodies. They are often seen at night under street lamps especially in times when winged termites swarm. They have been noted to feed on a wide range of invertebrates including scorpions. Tadpoles grown in sibling groups metamorphosed faster than those that were kept in mixed groups. Tadpoles have been shown to be able to recognize kin. 

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