Ahaetulla travancorica explained

The Travancore vine snake (Ahaetulla travancorica), is a species of tree snake endemic to the southern Western Ghats of India.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Taxonomy

It was formerly considered conspecific with A. dispar (which is now considered to have a more northerly distribution in the Western Ghats), but a 2020 study found it to represent a new species.

Geographic range

This species is endemic to the Agasthyamalai Hills of the southern Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The specimen that the species was described from originates from a single locality in Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. The Shencottah Gap north of the Agasthyamalais separates it from its closest relative, A. dispar.

Habitat

This species is found in high-elevation shola forests in the Western Ghats above 1000 msl.

Notes and References

1. Mallik. Ashok Kumar. Srikanthan. Achyuthan N.. Pal. Saunak P.. D’souza. Princia Margaret. Shanker. Kartik. Ganesh. Sumaithangi Rajagopalan. 2020-11-06. Disentangling vines: a study of morphological crypsis and genetic divergence in vine snakes (Squamata: Colubridae: Ahaetulla) with the description of five new species from Peninsular India. Zootaxa. en. 4874. 1. zootaxa.4874.1.1. 10.11646/zootaxa.4874.1.1. 33311335 . 228823754 .
2. News: Staff Reporter. 2020-11-14. New species of vine snakes discovered. en-IN. The Hindu. 2020-11-26. 0971-751X.
3. Web site: The discovery of five new species of vine snakes in India. 2020-11-26. phys.org. en.