Shelia6340 at 10:40, 13 January 2026

2026-01-13T10:40:07Z

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{{Short description|Species of snake}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Indian or Long-nosed vine snake
| image = Green vine snake or Long nosed whip snake.jpg
| image_caption = At [[Nehru Zoological Park]], [[Hyderabad]]
| taxon = Ahaetulla oxyrhyncha
| authority = ([[Thomas Bell (zoologist)|Bell]], 1825)
}}
[[File:Ahaetulla_nasuta_in_a_threat_display.jpg|thumb|''Ahaetulla oxyrhyncha'', [[Ezhimala]], Kerala, India. Note the distinct black and white interstices.]]

The '''Indian vine snake''' or '''long-nosed vine snake''' ('''''Ahaetulla oxyrhyncha''''') is a species of [[Diurnality|diurnal]], mildly [[venomous]], [[arboreal]] snake distributed in the lowlands of [[South India|peninsular India]].Often mistakenly believed to peck out peoples' eyes, this misconception has led to widespread wanton killing of this species.<ref name=":0">{{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 |journal=Zootaxa|language=en|volume=4874|issue=1|pages=1–62|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4874.1.1|pmid=33311335 |s2cid=228823754 |issn=1175-5334}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-11-14|title=New species of vine snakes discovered|language=en-IN|newspaper=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/new-species-of-vine-snakes-discovered/article33097126.ece|access-date=2020-11-26|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=The discovery of five new species of vine snakes in India|url=https://phys.org/news/2020-11-discovery-species-vine-snakes-india.html|access-date=2020-11-26|website=phys.org|language=en}}</ref>

== Description ==
A thin and slender-bodied snake that is usually bright grassy green in colour. A pair of white lines extend throughout its body length demarcating the back and under belly parts. Adults reach over {{Convert|5|ft}} in length. They have unique [[Horizontal plane|horizontal]] [[pupil]] in the [[eye]]. Formerly misclassified as ''A. nasuta'', ''A. oxyrhyncha'' is actually a much larger-bodied species that also has a much longer snout.<ref name=":1" /> Indian green vine snakes (genus Ahaetulla) are strongly arboreal, meaning they live in trees and bushes, using their slender bodies and camouflage to mimic branches for hunting lizards and frogs and avoiding predators. They are diurnal (active during the day) and rely on their perfect camouflage and binocular vision for hunting in foliage.

==Venrnacular Languauge==
In [[Telugu language|Telugu]], it is known as '''pasarika pamu'''

== Geographic range ==
This species is distributed throughout the drier plains and low hilly tracts of Peninsular [[India]], except the [[Western Ghats]] [[rainforest]].<ref name=":0" />

== Habitat ==
It is found in many types of vegetation including [[arid]] to [[Semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] habitats and in [[Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests|dry deciduous forests]], as well as open areas such as [[Deccan thorn scrub forests|scrub forests]], [[Malabar Coast moist forests|coastal forests]], and [[Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands|Indian savannah]]. This species has been often sighted in and around human habitations in villages and countrysides and even in some city Parks.<ref name=":0" />

== Taxonomy ==
It was described as a distinct species in 1825 based on drawings of snakes from [[Vishakapatnam]], but later considered as same species and confused with ''[[Ahaetulla nasuta|A. nasuta]]'', that is only endemic to Sri Lanka. A 2020 study found ''A. nasuta'' to be a [[species complex]] of ''A. nasuta [[sensu stricto]]'' and several species endemic to the [[Western Ghats]] (''[[Ahaetulla borealis|A. borealis]]'', ''[[Ahaetulla farnsworthi|A. farnsworthi]]'', ''[[Ahaetulla isabellina|A. isabellina]]'', and ''[[Ahaetulla malabarica|A. malabarica]])''.<ref name=":0" />

===Venom===
The snake is mildly venomous. Bites from this species produce a moderate reaction in humans, causing localized pain, swelling, bruising, and numbness that typically resolves within three days. Bites typically do not require medical attention, but some cases involving bites near vital organs could be more severe

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q102109393}}

[[Category:Ahaetulla|oxyrhyncha]]
[[Category:Endemic reptiles of India]]
[[Category:Snakes of Asia]]
[[Category:Reptiles described in 1825]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Thomas Bell (zoologist)]]

Ahaetulla oxyrhyncha - Revision history

Shelia6340 at 10:40, 13 January 2026