Ahaetulla

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Reptilia
Subclassis: Diapsida
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Subordo: Serpentes
Superfamilia: Colubroidea
Familia: Colubridae
Subfamilia: Colubrinae
Genus: Ahaetulla
Species: A. dispar - A. fasciolata - A. fronticincta - A. mycterizans - A. nasuta - A. perroteti - A. prasina - A. pulverulenta

Name

Ahaetulla Link, 1807

Type species: Coluber mycterizans Linnaeus, 1758

References

* Link, H.F., 1807. Beschreibung der Naturalien-Sammlung der Universität zu Rostock, zweite Abtheilung.
* Ahaetulla at the New Reptile Database. Accessed on 20 August 2008.

Vernacular names
Deutsch: Peitschennattern
English: Asian Longnose Whipsnakes

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Ahaetulla is a genus of colubrid snakes commonly referred to as vine snakes, or whip snakes. They are found predominantly from Sri Lanka, India through to Korea and much of southeast Asia, including many Pacific islands. They are mildly venomous and 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 like they are in vipers or cobras.

Species

The taxonomy of vine snakes is not well documented, and literature varies widely, but there are 8 commonly accepted species in the genus Ahaetulla:

* Günther's Vine Snake or Indian Bronzeback, Ahaetulla dispar (Günther, 1864)
* Speckle-headed Whipsnake, Ahaetulla fasciolata (Fischer, 1885)
* Burmese Vine Snake, Ahaetulla fronticincta (Günther, 1858)
* Malayan Green Whipsnake, Ahaetulla mycterizans (Linnaeus, 1758)
* Long-nosed Whip Snake, Ahaetulla nasuta (La Cépède, 1789)
* Western Ghats Bronzeback, Ahaetulla perroteti (Duméril & Bibron, 1854)
* Oriental Whipsnake or Asian Vine Snake, Ahaetulla prasina (Shaw, 1802)
o Ahaetulla prasina prasina (Boie, 1827)
o Ahaetulla prasina medioxima (Lazell, 2002)
o Ahaetulla prasina preocularis (Taylor, 1922)
o Ahaetulla prasina suluensis (Gaulke, 1994)
* Brown-speckled Whipsnake, Ahaetulla pulverulenta (Duméril & Bibron, 1854)

Description

All Ahaetulla species are characterized by thin, elongated bodies, with extremely long tails and a sharply triangular shaped head. They are primarily green in color, but can vary quite a bit to yellows, oranges, greys, and browns. They can have black and/or white patterning, or can be solid in color. Their eyes are unique in the reptile world, having keen binocular vision and keyhole shaped pupils.

Behavior

They are primarily diurnal and arboreal, living in humid rainforests. Their diet consists mainly of lizards, but sometimes frogs and rodents are also consumed. Ahaetulla fronticincta, however, feeds exclusively on fish, striking its prey from branches overhanging water. Ahaetulla venom is not considered to be dangerous to humans, but serves to cause paralysis in their fast moving prey choices. They are ovoviviparous.

In captivity

Ahaetulla species are frequently imported into the exotic pet trade. They are difficult to care for, requiring a humid arboreal habitat and a diet of lizards as they rarely switch to rodents. They also stress easily, are prone to skin infections, and internal parasites.

References

* Genus Ahaetulla at The Reptile Database