Why should we identify?


Identification is beneficial in the management of snake bites so if you could not catch the snake it does not matter if you identified the species. (even without identification snake bites are managed according to the symptoms of the patient)
Look at
1.   Appearance (head, body, tail)
2.   Arrangements of scales (vertebrals, subcaudals)
3.   Body markings

Step 1-  Differentiate Colubrides and elapids(which have morphologically similar features) from vipers.
Colubrides/Elapids-Head -> Oval/Spatula with large scales
Vipers- Head - > Triangular with small scales
Colubrides/Elapids-Body -> Long cylindrical
Vipers- Body - > Short and stout
Colubrides/Elapids-Tail -> Long and pointed
Vipers- Tail - > Short and pointed

Step 2-  Differentiate between Colubrides(feebly venomous or non-venomous) and Elapids (deadly venomous)
Both have an Oval head, a long cylindrical body and long pointed tail.
There are differences in the arrangement of scales.
Subcaudals(the scales on the ventral aspectof the tail(distal to the anal opening))
   Uniserial(undivided) in the Elapids with the exception of the cobra
   Biserial (Divided) in the Colubrides and in the Cobra(an Elapid)
About Subcaudals http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subcaudal_scales
Vertebral Scales ( Mid-line dorsal body scales.)
   Enlarged in Elapids(exception Cobra)
   Not enlarged in Colubrides (and in Cobra who is an Elapid)
About Vertebral scales http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebral_scales
Step 3- Other snakes such as Python can be identified by the body markings.