>Pvmoutside at 14:57, 28 May 2021

2021-05-28T14:57:48Z

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{{Short description|Genus of snakes}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| taxon = Ahaetulla
| image = Ahaya.dispar.jpg
| image_caption = ''[[Ahaetulla dispar]]''
| authority = Link, 1807
}}

'''''Ahaetulla''','' commonly referred to as '''Asian vine snakes''' or '''Asian whip snakes,''' is a [[genus]] of [[colubrid]] [[snake]]s distributed throughout tropical [[Asia]]. They are considered by some scientists to be mildly [[venom (poison)|venomous]] and are what is commonly termed as 'rear-fanged' or more appropriately, [[opisthoglypha|opisthoglyphous]], meaning their enlarged [[teeth]] or fangs, intended to aid in venom delivery, are located in the back of the upper [[jaw]], instead of in the front as they are in [[Viperidae|viper]]s or [[cobra]]s. As colubrids, Ahaetulla do not possess a true venom gland or a sophisticated venom delivery system. The Duvernoy's gland of this genus, homologous to the venom gland of true venomous snakes, produces a secretion which, though not well studied, is considered not to be medically significant to humans.

Green-colored members of this genus are often referred to as '''green vine snakes'''. They are not to be confused with the "green vine snake" ''[[Oxybelis fulgidus]]'', which convergently appears very similar but is found in Central and South America.

== Taxonomy ==
Their closest relative is the [[Monotypic taxon|monotypic]] genus ''[[Proahaetulla antiqua|Proahaetulla]]'', which ''Ahaetulla'' diverged from in the mid-[[Oligocene]]. From here, the clade containing ''Proahaetulla'' and ''Ahaetulla'' is a [[sister group]] to the genus ''[[Dryophiops]]'', and the clade containing all three of these genera is a sister group to the clade containing the bronzeback snakes (''[[Dendrelaphis]]'') and flying snakes (''[[Chrysopelea]]'').<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Mallik|first1=Ashok Kumar|last2=Achyuthan|first2=N. Srikanthan|last3=Ganesh|first3=Sumaithangi R.|last4=Pal|first4=Saunak P.|last5=Vijayakumar|first5=S. P.|last6=Shanker|first6=Kartik|date=2019-07-17|title=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|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=14|issue=7|pages=e0218851|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0218851|issn=1932-6203|pmc=6636718|pmid=31314800|bibcode=2019PLoSO..1418851M}}</ref>

In 2020, an analysis of ''[[Ahaetulla nasuta]], [[Ahaetulla dispar]]'', and ''[[Ahaetulla pulverulenta]]'' throughout their range found them to represent [[Species complex|species complexes]] containing several undescribed or formerly synonymized species, leading to the description of ''[[Ahaetulla borealis|A. borealis]]'', ''[[Ahaetulla farnsworthi|A. farnsworthi]]'', ''[[Ahaetulla malabarica|A. malabarica]]'', ''[[Ahaetulla travancorica|A. travancorica]]'', and ''[[Ahaetulla sahyadrensis|A. sahyadrensis]]'', as well as the resurrection of ''[[Ahaetulla oxyrhyncha|A. oxyrhyncha]]'' and ''[[Ahaetulla isabellina|A. isabellina]]''. ''[[Ahaetulla nasuta]]'' and ''[[Ahaetulla pulverulenta]]'', formerly considered to have much wider ranges, are now considered [[Endemism|endemic]] to [[Sri Lanka]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kumar|first=Chethan|date=November 13, 2020|title=IISc researchers discover 5 new species of vine snakes|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/iisc-researchers-discover-5-new-species-of-vine-snakes/articleshow/79208262.cms|access-date=2020-11-15|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

== Geographic range ==
They are found from [[Sri Lanka]] and [[India]] to [[China]] and much of [[Southeast Asia]]. Sri Lanka and the [[Western Ghats]] of India are major hotspots of diversity for the genus, with 10 of the 17 currently-described species being [[Endemism|endemic]] to these regions.<ref name=":0" />

== Species ==
The [[Taxonomy (biology)|taxonomy]] of vine snakes is not well-documented, and literature varies widely, but there are 18 currently accepted [[species]] in the genus ''Ahaetulla'':<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Search results {{!}} The Reptile Database|url=https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/advanced_search?genus=ahaetulla&submit=Search|access-date=2020-12-25|website=reptile-database.reptarium.cz}}</ref>

*''[[Ahaetulla anomala]]'' ([[Nelson Annandale|Annandale]], 1906) - Variable colored vine snake (possibly [[Biological specificity|conspecific]] with ''A. oxyrhyncha'')
*''[[Ahaetulla borealis]]'' Mallik, Srikanthan, Pal, Princia D'Souza, Shanker & Ganesh, 2020 - Northern Western Ghats vine snake
*''[[Ahaetulla dispar]]'' ([[Albert C. L. G. Günther|Günther]], 1864) - Günther's vine snake
* ''[[Ahaetulla farnsworthi]]'' Mallik, Srikanthan, Pal, Princia D'Souza, Shanker & Ganesh, 2020 - Farnsworth's vine snake
*''[[Ahaetulla fasciolata]]'' ([[Johann Gustav Fischer|Fischer]], 1885) - Speckle-headed whipsnake
*''[[Ahaetulla fronticincta]]'' ([[Albert C. L. G. Günther|Günther]], 1858) - [[Burma|Burmese]] vine snake
*''[[Ahaetulla isabellina]]'' ([[Frank Wall (herpetologist)|Wall]], 1910) - Wall's vine snake
*''[[Ahaetulla laudankia]]'' [[V. Deepak|Deepak]], [[Surya Narayanan|Narayanan]], [[Vivek Sarkar|Sarkar]], [[Sushil K. Dutta|Dutta]] & [[Pratyush PMohapatra|Mohapatra]], 2019 - Laudankia vine snake
*''[[Ahaetulla malabarica]]'' Mallik, Srikanthan, Pal, Princia D'Souza, Shanker & Ganesh, 2020 - Malabar vine snake
*''[[Ahaetulla mycterizans]]'' ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]]) - [[Malaysia|Malayan]] green whipsnake
*''[[Ahaetulla nasuta]]'' ([[Bernard Germain Étienne comte de La Ville-sur-Illon La Cépède|La Cépède]], 1789) - Sri Lankan green vine snake
*''[[Ahaetulla oxyrhyncha]]'' ([[Thomas Bell (zoologist)|Bell]], 1825) - Indian vine snake
*''[[Ahaetulla perroteti]]'' ([[André Marie Constant Duméril|Duméril]] & [[Gabriel Bibron|Bibron]], 1854) - Nilgiri vine snake
*''[[Ahaetulla prasina]]'' ([[Friedrich Boie|Boie]], 1827) - Oriental whipsnake or Asian vine snake
**''Ahaetulla prasina prasina'' ([[Friedrich Boie|Boie]], 1827)
**''Ahaetulla prasina medioxima'' Lazell, 2002
**''Ahaetulla prasina preocularis'' ([[Edward Harrison Taylor|Taylor]], 1922)
**''Ahaetulla prasina suluensis'' Gaulke, 1994
*''[[Ahaetulla pulverulenta]]'' ([[André Marie Constant Duméril|Duméril]] & [[Gabriel Bibron|Bibron]], 1854) - Brown-speckled whipsnake
*''[[Ahaetulla rufusoculara]]'' Lam, Thu, Nguyen, Murphy, & Nguyen, 2021
*''[[Ahaetulla sahyadrensis]]'' Mallik, Srikanthan, Pal, Princia D'Souza, Shanker & Ganesh, 2020
*''[[Ahaetulla travancorica]]'' Mallik, Srikanthan, Pal, Princia D'Souza, Shanker & Ganesh, 2020 - Travancore vine snake
Several [[Undescribed taxon|undescribed species]] (including the Southeast Asian ''Ahaetulla'' formerly assigned to ''A. nasuta'') still likely remain in these complexes<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Mallik|first1=Ashok Kumar|last2=Srikanthan|first2=Achyuthan N.|last3=Pal|first3=Saunak P.|last4=D’souza|first4=Princia Margaret|last5=Shanker|first5=Kartik|last6=Ganesh|first6=Sumaithangi Rajagopalan|date=2020-11-06|title=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|url=https://www.biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.4874.1.1|journal=Zootaxa|language=en|volume=4874|issue=1|pages=zootaxa.4874.1.1|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4874.1.1|pmid=33311335|issn=1175-5334}}</ref>[[File:Ahaetulla prasina2.jpg|240px|thumb|''Ahaetulla prasina'', showing keyhole shaped pupil]]

== Description ==
All ''Ahaetulla'' species are characterized by thin, elongated bodies, with extremely long tails and a sharply triangular shaped head. They are primarily [[green]] in color, but can vary quite a bit to [[yellow]]s, [[orange (color)|orange]]s, [[grey]]s, and [[brown]]s. They can have black and/or white patterning, or can be solid in color. Their [[eyes]] are almost unique in the [[reptile]] world, having keen binocular [[visual acuity|vision]] and keyhole shaped [[pupil]]s, being similar in this aspect with [[twig snake]]s, who also have keyhole shaped pupils.

==Etymology==
The genus name ''Ahaetulla'' comes from the Sinhalese name ''ehetulla'' for ''Ahaetulla nasuta'', which means 'eye plucker' or 'eye striker.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wall|first=Frank |year=1921|title=Ophidia Taprobanica or the Snakes of Ceylon|place=Ceylon|publisher=Government Press|page=291|url=https://archive.org/stream/ophidiataprobani00wall#page/291/mode/1up}}</ref>

=== Vernacular names ===
The sinhala name "Aheatulla" or "eye-plucker" forms the taxonomic genus name. In [[Tamil language|Tamil]], it is known as '''pachai paambu''', in [[Malayalam]] it is known as '''pachila paambu''', in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] it is known as ''Pasarika Paamu'', in [[Marathi language|Marathi]], it is known as '''shelati snake''', and in [[Kannada]] it is known as '''Hasiru Haavu'''. There are dozens of other [[Vernacular name|vernacular names]] for this snake genus within its range.<ref>[https://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/YAVATMAL/gen_snakes.html Snakes by Dr. P. J. Deoras, Bombay.]</ref><ref>[http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/17803/14/14_chapter%204.pdf. Chapter 4 Result and discussion - Shodhganga]</ref>

* Sinhala: ඇහැටුල්ලා (Pronounced: Aheatulla)
* Telugu: పచ్చారి పాము.
* Bengali: লাউডগা.
* Odia: ଲାଉଡଙ୍କିଆ
* Kannada: ಹಸಿರು ಹಾವು, ಹಸಿರು ಬಳ್ಳಿ ಹಾವು.
* Gujarati: લીલવણ, માળણ.
* Marathi हरणटोळ, शेलाटी<ref>[http://environmentclearance.nic.in/writereaddata/EIA/911312191217182-10.pdf Ajanta Minerals] Dist. Gadchiroli ([[Maharashtra]])</ref>
* Tamil: பச்சை பாம்பு
* Malayalam: പച്ചില പാമ്പ്,കൺകൊത്തി
* Telugu: పసరికా పాము

== Behavior ==
They are primarily [[diurnal animal|diurnal]] and [[arboreal]], living in humid [[rainforest]]s. Their [[diet (nutrition)|diet]] consists mainly of [[lizard]]s, but sometimes [[frog]]s and [[rodent]]s are also consumed. ''Ahaetulla fronticincta'', however, feeds exclusively on fish, striking its prey from branches overhanging water. ''Ahaetulla'' venom is not considered to be dangerous to humans, but serves to cause [[paralysis]] in their fast moving [[predation|prey]] choices. They are [[ovoviviparous]].
[[File:Ahaetulla prasina3.jpg|240px|thumb|''Ahaetulla prasina'', showing rear-set fang]]

== In captivity ==
''Ahaetulla'' species are not yet frequently captive bred, as are many of the more popular snakes in the reptile keeping hobby. They are suitable for more advanced keepers, requiring a humid arboreal habitat and a diet of lizards as they rarely switch to [[rodent]]s. Without proper husbandry, they are prone to health issues and stress.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Ahaetulla}}
*{{EMBL genus|genus=Ahaetulla}}
*[http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/oriental_whip-snake.htm Ecology Asia, Snakes of Southeast Asia: Oriental Whip Snake]
*[http://zoltantakacs.com/zt/pw/sn/album.php?idx=5 Dr. Zoltan Takacs' Homebase]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q602558}}

[[Category:Ahaetulla]]
[[Category:Reptiles of India]]
[[Category:Reptiles of China]]
[[Category:Reptiles of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Snake genera]]

Ahaetulla - Revision history

>Pvmoutside at 14:57, 28 May 2021