|
Ahaetulla
''Ahaetulla,'' commonly referred to as Asian vine snakes or Asian whip snakes, is a genus of colubrid snakes distributed throughout tropical Asia. They are considered by some scientists to be mildly venomous and are what is commonly termed as 'rear-fanged' or more appropriately, opisthoglyphous, meaning their enlarged teeth or fangs, intended to aid in venom delivery, are located in the back of the upper jaw, instead of in the front as they are in vipers or cobras. As colubrids, Ahaetulla do not possess a true venom gland or a sophisticated venom delivery system. The Duvernoy's gland of this genus, homologous to the venom gland of true venomous snakes, produces a secretion which, though not well studied, is considered not to be medically significant to humans. Green-colored members of this genus are often referred to as green vine snakes. They are not to be confused with the "green vine snake" ''Oxybelis fulgidus'', which convergently appears very similar but is found in Central ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ahaetulla Nasuta
''Ahaetulla nasuta'', also known as Sri Lankan green vine snake and long-nosed whip snake, is a venomous, slender green tree snake endemic to Sri Lanka. Distribution Due to longstanding confusion over the taxonomy of ''A. nasuta'', the species was once thought to have a large range from Sri Lanka to peninsular India, including the Western Ghats, along with a disjunct population in Southeast Asia. However, a 2020 phylogenetic study found ''A. nasuta'' to actually comprise a species complex, with the "true" ''A. nasuta'' (from which the species was originally described) being restricted to the wet zone of Sri Lanka (including the Sri Lanka lowland and montane rainforests). 4 populations from the Western Ghats of India that were formerly grouped with ''A. nasuta'' were split into the species '' A. borealis'', '' A. farnsworthi'', '' A. isabellina'', and '' A. malabarica''. The large-bodied form from lowland peninsular India (and possibly the dry zone of the northern portion o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ahaetulla Sahyadrensis
''Ahaetulla sahyadrensis'' is a species of tree snake endemic to the Western Ghats of India. It is also reported from Bangladesh. 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. 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. It is also reported from Bangladesh. Habitat It is found in moist deciduous and evergreen forests from ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ahaetulla Pulverulenta
Brown-speckled whipsnake or brown vine snake (''Ahaetulla pulverulenta'') is a species of tree snake endemic to Sri Lanka. Populations in the Western Ghats of India are now considered a separate species, ''Ahaetulla sahyadrensis''. It is known as හෙනකදයා (''henakadaya'') in Sinhala; this name provided the name anaconda. Description :''See snake scales for terms used'' Snout pointed, terminating in a dermal appendage which is longer than the eye, formed below by the rostral, and covered above with numerous small scales or warts; the length of the snout, without the dermal appendage, more than twice the diameter of the eye. Nasals in contact behind the rostral appendage, or narrowly separated; no loreal; internasals and prefrontals in contact with the labials; frontal as long as its distance from the nasals, as long as the parietals or a little longer; two preoculars, with one subocular below, the upper preocular in contact with the frontal; two postoculars; tem ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ahaetulla Isabellina
Wall's vine snake (''Ahaetulla isabellina'') is a species of tree snake endemic to the southern Western Ghats of India. Taxonomy It was formerly considered a subspecies of '' A. nasuta'', which is now considered to only be endemic to Sri Lanka. A 2020 study found ''A. nasuta'' to be a species complex of ''A. nasuta sensu stricto'' as well as '' A. borealis'', '' A. farnsworthi'', ''A. isabellina'', and '' A. malabarica'', elevating ''A. isabellina'' to species. The specific epithet is a reference to the isabelline yellow coloration of the species' dorsal body in live condition, which distinguishes it from other species in the complex. Geographic range This species is distributed in the southern Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala south of the Palghat Gap, from the Anaimalai Hills south to at least Sivagiri, Kerala, although more work is needed to determine the southern limit of the species' range. Habitat This species is found in evergreen forests An evergreen for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ahaetulla Oxyrhyncha
The Indian or Long-nosed vine snake (''Ahaetulla oxyrhyncha'') is a species of diurnal, mildly venomous, arboreal snake distributed in the lowlands of peninsular India.Often mistakenly believed to peck out peoples' eyes, this misconception has, sadly, led to widespread wanton killing of this species. Description A thin and slender-bodied snake that is usually bright grassy green in colour. A pair of white lines extend throughout its body length demarcating the back and under belly parts. Adults reach over 5 feet in length. They have unique horizontal pupil in the eye. Formerly mis-classified as''A. nasuta'', ''A. oxyrhyncha'' is actually a much larger-bodied species that also has a much longer snout. Geographic range This species is distributed throughout the drier plains and low hilly tracts of Peninsular India, except the Western Ghats rainforest. Habitat It is found in many types of vegetation including arid to semi-arid habitats and in dry deciduous forests, as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ahaetulla Malabarica
The Malabar vine snake (''Ahaetulla malabarica''), is a species of tree snake endemic to the southern portion of the central Western Ghats of India. Taxonomy It was formerly considered conspecific with '' A. nasuta'', which is now considered to only be endemic to Sri Lanka. A 2020 study found ''A. nasuta'' to be a species complex of ''A. nasuta sensu stricto'' as well as '' A. borealis'', '' A. farnsworthi'', '' A. isabellina'', and ''A. malabarica''. Geographic range This species is distributed in the southern portion of the central Western Ghats, from the Palghat Gap in Tamil Nadu and Kerala north to Tadiandamol in Karnataka. ''A. farnsworthi'' is found to the north of the species' range and may be sympatric with it at Coorg (although largely separated by rivers), while ''A. isabellina'' is found to the south of the species' range, being separated from it by the Palghat Gap. Habitat The species is found in mid-elevation evergreen forests An evergreen forest is a fore ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ahaetulla Borealis
The northern Western Ghats vine snake (''Ahaetulla borealis'') is a species of tree snake endemic to the northern Western Ghats of India. Taxonomy It was formerly considered conspecific with '' A. nasuta'', which is now considered to only be endemic to Sri Lanka. A 2020 study found ''A. nasuta'' to be a species complex of ''A. nasuta sensu stricto'' as well as ''A. borealis'', '' A. farnsworthi'', '' A. isabellina'', and '' A. malabarica''. Geographic range This species is one of the most widespread of Western Ghats ''Ahaetulla'', ranging from Sirsi, Karnataka north to Matheran, Maharashtra. Near the southern edge of its range it is flanked by ''A. farnsworthi'', from which it is likely separated by the Sharavathi River basin. Habitat It is found in low-to-mid-elevation moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests at a mean sea level of 300 – 750. References borealis Borealis (Latin for ''northern'' or ''of the north'') may refer to: Astronomy * Borealis B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ahaetulla Farnsworthi
Farnsworth's vine snake (''Ahaetulla farnsworthi'') is a species of tree snake endemic to the central Western Ghats of India. Taxonomy It was formerly considered conspecific with '' A. nasuta'', which is now considered to only be endemic to Sri Lanka. A 2020 study found ''A. nasuta'' to be a species complex of ''A. nasuta sensu stricto'' as well as '' A. borealis'', ''A. farnsworthi'', '' A. isabellina'', and '' A. malabarica''. The species is named after the character Professor Farnsworth from the American animated television series ''Futurama'', as a reference to the character's efforts in resurrecting barking snakes from extinction. Geographic range This species is endemic to the state of Karnataka, where it is distributed from Coorg to the Agumbe-Kodachadri range. It may be sympatric with ''A. malabarica'' in Coorg, but is largely separated from the species by rivers. Near the northern edge of its range it is flanked by ''A. borealis'', from which it is likely separate ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ahaetulla Dispar
''Ahaetulla dispar'', the Gunther's vine snake, is a species of tree snake endemic to the Western Ghats. It is primarily restricted to the Shola forests of the Southern Western Ghats where it is found often on high-elevation montane grasslands and the low shrub belts. Description Snout pointed and projecting, without dermal appendage, not quite twice as long as the eye. Internasals and prefrontals usually in contact with the labials; one or two small loreals ; frontal as long as its distance from the end of the snout or longer, as long as the parietals; one preocular, in contact with the frontal, with one or two suboculara below; twopostoculars; temporals 2+2 or 2+3; upper labials 8, fifth entering the eye; 4 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are as long as the posterior or a little shorter. Scales in 15 rows, those of the sacral region more or less distinctly keeled. Ventrals 142–151; anal divided; sub-caudals 90-105. Dorsal body Bright green or ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Proahaetulla Antiqua
''Proahaetulla'' is a monotypic genus of snake in the family Colubridae. It contains only one species, the keeled vine snake (''P. antiqua''), which is endemic to the Western Ghats of India. Its natural habitat is montane rainforests of southern Western Ghats. The species was first discovered in 2011, when an individual was found in the Agasthyamalai Hills of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It was initially thought to be a new species of ''Ahaetulla'', as it looked very similar to the species '' A. dispar''. However, genetic analyses found it to be deeply divergent from any member in the genus ''Ahaetulla'', so it was classified in its own genus. Both the genus and species were ultimately described in 2019. Taxonomy It is considered to be the sister taxon to the genus '' Ahetulla'', which it diverged from during the mid-Oligocene. Due to its age, ''Proahaetulla'' may be one of the oldest monotypic lineages of snakes to still persist in the Western Ghats. The study that described ''Pro ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ahaetulla Travancorica
The Travancore vine snake (''Ahaetulla travancorica''), is a species of tree snake endemic to the southern Western Ghats of India. Taxonomy It was formerly considered conspecific with '' A. dispar'' (which is now considered to have a more northerly distribution in the Western Ghats), but a 2020 study found it to represent a new species. Geographic range This species is endemic to the Agasthyamalai Hills of the southern Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The specimen that the species was described from originates from a single locality in Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. The Shencottah Gap north of the Agasthyamalais separates it from its closest relative, ''A. dispar''. Habitat This species is found in high-elevation shola Sholas are the local name for patches of stunted tropical montane forest found in valleys amid rolling grassland in the higher montane regions of South India, largely in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamilnadu. These patches of shola forest are found .. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Snake
Snakes are elongated, Limbless vertebrate, limbless, carnivore, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other Squamata, squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping Scale (zoology), scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more joints than their lizard ancestors, enabling them to swallow prey much larger than their heads (cranial kinesis). To accommodate their narrow bodies, snakes' paired organs (such as kidneys) appear one in front of the other instead of side by side, and most have only one functional lung. Some species retain a pelvic girdle with a pair of vestigial claws on either side of the cloaca. Lizards have evolved elongate bodies without limbs or with greatly reduced limbs about twenty-five times independently via convergent evolution, leading to many lineages of legless lizards. These resemble snakes, but several common groups of legless lizards have eyelids and external ears, which snakes lack, altho ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
