New vine snake “Proahaetulla Antiqua” species discovered 30/07/2019 – Posted in: Daily News

VINE SNAKE “PROAHAETULLA ANTIQUA” SPECIES

 

Zoologists have discovered a new vine snake species from the Agasthyamalai hills in the Western Ghats of India.

  • A new species of vine snake, belonging to an ancient lineage dating back to between 20 and 30 million years.
  • The vine snake Proahaetulla Antiqua, which lives in trees, is a member of the Ahaetuliinae family.
  • It is a new species because of its taxonomic similarities with other vine snakes, such as Ahaetulla dispar.

 

Ahaetuliinae family

The Ahaetuliinae family comprises 62 non-venomous species of snakes belonging to four genera: Ahaetulla (vine snakes), Chrysopelea (flying snakes), Dendrelaphis (bronzebacks) and Dryophiops (whip snakes).

They are distributed mostly in south and south-east Asia, and parts of East Asia. Dendrelaphis is the largest genus, with 45 species.

 

Source: Nature Asia

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