Question to the Herpetologists - Truth or Myth

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

This is a request to all the herpetologists to please help answer this

question of mine. Over the past decade or so, every visit of mine to the

jungles in the Western Ghats in the southern State of India - Kerala has

been incomplete with some body or the other makin a reference of this rather

legendary snake locals refer to as " Malanchooti " (Malan = Hills, Chooti =

Whistler).

 

I have seen and handled over 60 species of snakes in India alone but have

never seen a snake that matches the description of 'Malanchooti'. Locals

(not too many in number) who constantly work/ed in these jungles either as

forest guards or were wood cutters claim to have seen a snake which would

almost rises on its tail and whistles in a very high pitch upon seeing

humans (or a potential intruder). And the most distinct desription everyone

mentioned was that it apparently has a reduced comb on its head (like the

one on a rooster).

 

I am writing this to you because I heard of this snake from different areas

and not retricted to one tribe alone. I did try and mimic a few common

noises made by snakes to them (like the common hiss of cobras, the bark of

tiger snakes, the rasp of a desert horned viper or snore of the eastern

hognose) but they said it was a distance whistle which humans normally make

by holding their fingers inbetween their lips.

 

Thanks, Pablo.

 

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