Dendrelaphis ngansonensis explained

Dendrelaphis ngansonensis, commonly known as either the Nganson bronzeback or Nganson bronzeback tree snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae, sound in Southeast Asia.

Etymology

The species name ngansonensis is named after the type locality of the Ngân Sơn district of Tonkin, North Vietnam.

Taxonomy

Dendrelaphis ngansonensis belongs to the genus Dendrelaphis, which contains 48 other described species.[1] D. ngansonensis is most closely related to Dendrelaphis cyanochloris, and together the two might form a species complex.

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:[2]

Distribution

The species is found in Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and southwestern China (Yunnan).

Habitat and behaviour

Dendrelaphis ngansonensis is an arboreal snake that occurs in both primary and secondary forests. It preys upon small vertebrates. It has been found to be both diurnal and nocturnal, and has oviparous reproduction.

Notes and References

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  2. 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 . . en . 14 . 7 . e0218851 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0218851 . 31314800 . 6636718 . 1932-6203 . 2019PLoSO..1418851M . free.