Ahaetulla prasina

Ahaetulla prasina
File:Ahaetulla-prasina-kaeng-krachan-national-park.jpg
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Lamprophiidae
Genus:	Ahaetulla
Species:	A. prasina
Binomial name
Ahaetulla prasina (Boie, 1827)
Synonyms
Dryophis prasinus Boie, 1827

Ahaetulla prasina is a species of snake in the family Colubridae native to southern Asia. Its common names include Asian vine snake, Boie's whip snake, Gunther's whip snake, and Oriental whip snake.

Description

Snake scale identification guide from Malcolm A. Smith (1943)

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Legend

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ag – Anterior genials or Chin shields
f – Frontal
in – Internasal
l – Loreal
la – Supralabial
la' – Infralabial
m – Mental
n – Nasal
p – Parietal
pf – Prefrontal
pg – Posterior Genials or Chin shields
pro – Preocular
pso – Presubocular
pto – Postocular
r – Rostral
so – Supraocular
t – Anterior and Posterior Temporals
v – First Ventral

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The body form is extremely slender with a long, pointed, projecting snout which is rather more than twice as long as the eye. Adult colouration varies from light brown to dull yellow-green and often a startling fluorescent green.

The type and number of scales is used to identify the snakes. In this species the Internasals are usually in contact with the labial or lip scales. There are one to four small loreals between the prefrontal and the labial scales. The frontal is as long as its distance from the end of the snout or a little longer and a little longer than the parietal scales. There is one preocular scale in front of the eye, which is in contact with the frontal scale. There two postocular scales (behind the eyes). The temporal scales come in patters of 2+2 or 3+3, rarely 1+2. Of the upper labial scales, the ninth, fourth, fifth, and sixth enter the eye while the 4 lower labials are in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are shorter than the posterior chin-shields. The scales in 15 rows and are usually faintly keeled on the sacral]]\\ region. There are 203-234 Ventral scales which are anal divided. There are 167 to 203 subcaudals which are bright green, pale olive, or grey-brown, with a yellow line along each side of the lower parts. The interstitial skin of the neck is black and white.

Adults may attain 1.8 m (6 feet) in total length, with a tail 0.6 m (2 feet) long.

Its appearance is very much like those of South American vine snakes. It is a rear-fanged species and is mildly venomous but is not considered a threat to humans.

Distribution

This snake has a wide distribution in Asia, where it occurs in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Diet

The Asian vine snake feeds on small reptiles and amphibians, particularly lizards and tree frogs.

In captivity

In recent years, it has entered the pet trade and has become quite popular among hobbyists.

Subspecies

Four subspecies are recognized, including the nominate race.

• Ahaetulla prasina medioxima Lazell, 2002
• Ahaetulla prasina preocularis (Taylor, 1922): Philippine Islands, including Sulu Archipelago, Panay, Luzon.
• Ahaetulla prasina prasina (Boie, 1827)
• Ahaetulla prasina suluensis Gaulke, 1994: Philippine Islands, Sulu Archipelago

Gallery

• Ahaetulla prasina - Asian vine snake (orange morph).jpg

  Orange morph, Khao Yai National Park

• Ahaetulla prasina - Asian vine snake (white morph).jpg

  White morph, Khao Yai National Park

• Oriental whip snake (Ahaetulla prasina) - Flickr - Lip Kee.jpg
• Asian Vine Snake 085.jpg
• Ahaetulla prasina.jpg
• Ahaetulla prasina at Sesbania sesban.jpg
• Ahaetulla prasina preocularis yellow morph from Palanan - ZooKeys-266-001-g074.jpg

  Yellow morph

References

• Boulenger, G.A. 1897 List of the reptiles and batrachians collected by Mr. Alfred Everett in Lombok, Flores, Sumba and Saru, with descriptions of new species.Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) 19: 503-509
• Shaw, G. 1802 General Zoology, or Systematic Natural History. Vol.3, part 1 + 2. G. Kearsley, Thomas Davison, London: 313-615

External links

• Ahaetulla prasina at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database