Chrysopelea taprobanica, the Sri Lankan flying snake[3][4][5] or Indian flying snake,[2] is a species of gliding colubrid snake distributed in India and Sri Lanka.[1][2][6] It can glide, as with all species of its genus Chrysopelea, by stretching the body into a flattened strip using its ribs. The snake is known as "dangara dandaa - දඟරදන්ඩා" in Sinhala, due to its folding postures.
| Chrysopelea taprobanica | |
|---|---|
| |
| At Kandalama, Sri Lanka | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Ahaetuliinae |
| Genus: | Chrysopelea |
| Species: | C. taprobanica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Chrysopelea taprobanica | |
Taxonomy
editChrysopelea taprobanica belongs to the genus Chrysopelea, which contains four other described species.[7]
Chrysopelea is one of five genera belonging to the vine snake subfamily Ahaetuliinae, of which Chrysopelea is most closely related to Dendrelaphis, as shown in the cladogram below:[8]
| Ahaetuliinae |
| ||||||||||||||||||
Distribution
editThe Sri Lankan flying snake is distributed in Sri Lanka and Peninsular India. population in Sri Lanka can be found in dry zone lowlands and parts of the intermediate climatic zones, including Polonnaruwa, Wilpattu National Park, Sigiriya, Kurunegala, Jaffna, Trincomalee, and Monaragala.[5] This species was believed to be endemic to Sri Lanka until researchers recorded a few specimens from Andhra Pradesh (India)[9][10] and found old museum specimens collected from India that are now assigned to this species.[6] More recently this species has been sighted in parts of Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu.
Description
edit
Chrysopelea taprobanica is a medium-sized snake, reaching 60–90 cm (24–35 in) length. The head is depressed. Eyes are large with round pupils. Ventral scales have keels laterally. Vertebral scales are not enlarged. Dorsal scales are smooth or feebly keeled. Dorsal side is greenish yellow or pale green. Orange to red spots can be seen between dark cross bands. Head is black dorsally with yellow and black cross-bars. Ventral side is pale green with a series of black lateral spots on each side.[5]
Scalation
editThere are 198–214 ventral scales and 107–123 subcaudal scales.[5]
Behavior
editEcology
editThe snake inhabits old growth trees, as well as secondary vegetation, cultivation, sometimes entering human dwellings. They are diurnal and arboreal.[5]
Diet
editIts diet consists mainly of lizards, such as geckos and agamids. Bats, rodents, birds and other small snakes may also be taken.[5]
Reproduction
editChrysopelea taprobanica is oviparous.[2][5]
Relationship with humans
editBecause this species is uncommon, arboreal, and prefers forests, it is rarely encountered by humans. One bite has been reliably documented, resulting in mild local effects only.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b Narayanan, S.; Mohapatra, P.; Ganesh, S.R.; Srinivasulu, C.; Wickramasinghe, L.J.M. (2021). "Chrysopelea taprobanica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T197189A76381871. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T197189A76381871.en. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d Chrysopelea taprobanica at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 18 September 2018.
- ^ a b Silva, Anjana; Weerawansa, Prasanna; Pilapitiya, Senaka; Maduwage, Thilina & Siribaddana, Sisira (2013). "First authenticated case of Sri Lankan flying snake (Chrysopelea taprobanica) bite". Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. 24 (3): 273–276. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2013.01.008. PMID 23590930.
- ^ "Snakes of Sri Lanka". Biodiversity of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Sri Lankan Flying snake". Sri Lanka Reptile. 1997–2009. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ a b Somaweera, R.; Pantoja, D. L. & Deepak, V. (2015). "Forgotten records of Chrysopelea taprobanica Smith, 1943 (Squamata: Colubridae) from India". Zootaxa. 3947 (4): 597–600. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3947.4.11. PMID 25947759.
- ^ Genus Chrysopelea at The Reptile Database.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Guptha, Bubesh; Prasad, Nimmakayala Venkata Sivaram; Maddock, Simon T. & Deepak, V. (2015). "First record of Chrysopelea taprobanica Smith, 1943 (Squamata: Colubridae) from India". Check List. 11 (1): 1–3. doi:10.15560/11.1.1523. hdl:2436/621584.
- ^ Rangarajan, A.D. (1 January 2015). "Sri Lankan snake sighted in Seshachalam". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 September 2018.