Jump to content

Dendrelaphis caudolineatus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dendrelaphis caudolineatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Ahaetuliinae
Genus: Dendrelaphis
Species:
D. caudolineatus
Binomial name
Dendrelaphis caudolineatus
(JE Gray, 1834)

Dendrelaphis caudolineatus, commonly known as the striped bronzeback or grey bronzeback, is a species of colubrid snake found in Southeast Asia.

Etymology

[edit]

When John Edward Gray first scientifically described the species in 1834, he did not provide the origin of the scientific name caudolineatus. However, in Latin "cauda" means tail and "linea" mean line, possibly referencing the longitudinal lines reaching from head to tail.[2]

Taxonomy

[edit]

Dendrelaphis caudolineatus belongs to the genus Dendrelaphis, which contains 48 other described species.[3] Prior to a 2012 study, several other species of Dendrelaphis were previously considered to be members of Dendrelaphis caudolineatus, but are now considered to be separate species: D. flavescens, D. terrificus, D. philippinensis, and D. levitoni.[1]

Dendrelaphis is one of five genera belonging to the vine snake subfamily Ahaetuliinae, of which Dendrelaphis is most closely related to Chrysopelea, as shown in the cladogram below:[4]

Ahaetuliinae

Distribution

[edit]

Dendrelaphis caudolineatus is found in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, and Singapore.[2][1]

Habitat

[edit]

It is found in a wide variety of forested habitats, commonly seen in trees and bushes, most often near swamps and streams. It can be found in gardens and cultivated areas. It is widespread, and one of the most commonly seen snakes in its range.[1]

Description

[edit]

Dendrelaphis caudolineatus is a rather small and thin snake, it can reach a length of 180 centimeters but is usually closer to 140 cm. The males are usually thinner than females but are more colorful, ranging from a reddish shade or bright chestnut brown, to a shiny bronze color. The females are usually dull-colored, and more stout-bodied than the males. It is also observed that females of this species tend to be less active than the males.[citation needed]

Behavior

[edit]

The snake is diurnal and fully arboreal, and has oviparous reproduction,[2] laying clutches of five to eight eggs.[1] It feeds mainly on lizards and tree frogs.

Pet trade

[edit]

It is commonly sold as a pet in the legal pet trade, with the exception of Thailand, where it is illegal to export snakes.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Vogel, G.; Wogan, G.; Chan-Ard, T.; Grismer, L.; Stubbs, A. (2021). "Dendrelaphis caudolineatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T183190A1732207. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Dendrelaphis caudolineatus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 26 February 2016.
  3. ^ Genus Dendrelaphis at The Reptile Database.
  4. ^ 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.