The northern Western Ghats vine snake (Ahaetulla borealis) is a species of tree snake endemic to the northern Western Ghats of India.[1][2][3]
| Northern Western Ghats vine snake | |
|---|---|
| |
| In Amboli, Maharashtra | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Ahaetulla |
| Species: | A. borealis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ahaetulla borealis Mallik, Srikanthan, Pal, Princia D'Souza, Shanker, and Ganesh, 2020
| |
Taxonomy edit
It was formerly considered conspecific with A. nasuta, which is now considered to only be endemic to Sri Lanka. A 2020 study found A. nasuta to be a species complex of A. nasuta sensu stricto as well as A. borealis, A. farnsworthi, A. isabellina, and A. malabarica.[1]
Geographic range edit
This species is one of the most widespread of Western Ghats Ahaetulla, ranging from Sirsi, Karnataka north to Matheran, Maharashtra. Near the southern edge of its range it is flanked by A. farnsworthi, from which it is likely separated by the Sharavathi River basin.[1]
Habitat edit
It is found in low-to-mid-elevation moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests at a mean sea level of 300 – 750.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d Mallik, Ashok Kumar; Srikanthan, Achyuthan N.; Pal, Saunak P.; D’souza, Princia Margaret; Shanker, Kartik; Ganesh, Sumaithangi Rajagopalan (6 November 2020). "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. 4874 (1): zootaxa.4874.1.1. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4874.1.1. ISSN 1175-5334. PMID 33311335. S2CID 228823754.
- ^ Staff Reporter (14 November 2020). "New species of vine snakes discovered". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
- ^ "The discovery of five new species of vine snakes in India". phys.org. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
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