Ahaetulla sahyadrensis
In Kerala.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Ahaetulla
Species:
A. sahyadrensis
Binomial name
Ahaetulla sahyadrensis
Mallik, Srikanthan, Pal, Princia D'Souza, Shanker, and Ganesh, 2020
Synonyms

Ahaetulla sahyadrensis is a species of tree snake endemic to the Western Ghats of India.[1][2][3] It is also reported from Bangladesh.[4]

Taxonomy

It was formerly considered conspecific with A. pulverulenta (now considered to be restricted to Sri Lanka), and was described as a subspecies of it (A. p. indica) by Paulus Edward Pieris Deraniyagala in 1955. However, a 2020 study recovered it as a distinct species. In addition, a now-defunct subspecies of Ahaetulla prasina, A. p. indica, was described by Rudolf Mell in 1931. Thus, the combination Ahaetulla pulverulenta indica would be a homonym to Ahaetulla prasina indica. To solve this, a new replacement name, A. sahyadrensis, was erected in 2020.[1]

Geographic range

This species is the most widespread of all vine snakes endemic to the Western Ghats, ranging from Gujarat south to Kerala and Tamil Nadu.[1] It is also reported from Bangladesh.[5]

Habitat

It is found in moist deciduous and evergreen forests from just above sea level up to 1500 msl. They are usually found in the vicinity of perennial streams.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Mallik, Ashok Kumar; Srikanthan, Achyuthan N.; Pal, Saunak P.; D’souza, Princia Margaret; Shanker, Kartik; Ganesh, Sumaithangi Rajagopalan (6 November 2020). "Disentangling vines: a study of morphological crypsis and genetic divergence in vine snakes (Squamata: Colubridae: Ahaetulla ) with the description of five new species from Peninsular India". Zootaxa. 4874 (1): zootaxa.4874.1.1. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4874.1.1. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 33311335. S2CID 228823754.
  2. ↑ Staff Reporter (14 November 2020). "New species of vine snakes discovered". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  3. ↑ "The discovery of five new species of vine snakes in India". phys.org. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  4. ↑ "Ahaetulla sahyadrensis".
  5. ↑ "Ahaetulla sahyadrensis".
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