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Ahaetulla fronticincta

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Günther's whipsnake
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Ahaetuliinae
Genus: Ahaetulla
Species:
A. fronticincta
Binomial name
Ahaetulla fronticincta
(Günther, 1858)
Synonyms

Dryophis fronticinctus

Ahaetulla fronticincta, commonly known as Günther's whipsnake, the Burmese vine snake or the river vine snake, is a species of fish-eating vine snake found in Southeast Asia.

Taxonomy

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It belongs to the genus Ahaetulla, one of five genera within the subfamily Ahaetuliinae. The relationships of Ahaetulla fronticincta to some other Ahaetulla species, and to the other genera within Ahaetuliinae, can be shown in the cladogram below, with possible paraphyletic species noted:[2]

Ahaetuliinae
sharp‑nosed snakes
broad‑nosed snakes

Distribution and habitat

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It is found in bushes and other low vegetation along tidal rivers and mangrove in coastal parts of Myanmar (Burma).[1][3][4] There are also old records from neighbouring northeastern India (Assam and Darjeeling), but these are considered questionable and it has not been located there during recent surveys.[1][4] It is generally common in appropriate habitats within its known range.[1]

Description

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It is slender, up to about 1 m (3 ft) long, and either green or brownish with a paler underside.[3]

Behavior

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This diurnal, mildly venomous snake feeds only on fish.[1][3][4] It strikes at a fish in water while maintaining half of its body wrapped around a branch or twig. The mild venom of this snake renders the fish immobile.

It is ovoviviparous.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Wogan, G. & Vogel, G. (2012). "Ahaetulla fronticincta". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. IUCN: e.T192058A2034357. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192058A2034357.en. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  2. ^ Mallik, Ashok Kumar; Achyuthan, N. Srikanthan; Ganesh, Sumaithangi R.; Pal, Saunak P.; Vijayakumar, S. P.; Shanker, Kartik (27 July 2019). "Discovery of a deeply divergent new lineage of vine snake (Colubridae: Ahaetuliinae: Proahaetulla gen. nov.) from the southern Western Ghats of Peninsular India with a revised key for Ahaetuliinae". PLOS ONE. 14 (7): e0218851. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1418851M. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218851. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 6636718. PMID 31314800.
  3. ^ a b c d Das, I. (2010). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-East Asia. Pp. 259-260. New Holland Publishers, UK. ISBN 978-1-84773-347-4
  4. ^ a b c Reptile Database (2016). Ahaetulla fronticincta. Retrieved 15 April 2016.

Further reading

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