Ahaetulla sahyadrensis | |
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In Kerala. | |
Scientific classification
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Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Colubridae |
Subfamily: | Ahaetuliinae |
Genus: | Ahaetulla |
Species: | A. sahyadrensis
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Binomial name | |
Ahaetulla sahyadrensis Mallik, Srikanthan, Pal, Princia D'Souza, Shanker, and Ganesh, 2020
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Synonyms | |
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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]
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]
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]
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]
Ahaetulla sahyadrensis | |
---|---|
![]() | |
In Kerala. | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Colubridae |
Subfamily: | Ahaetuliinae |
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]
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]
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]
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]