Dendrelaphis andamanensis ( Anderson, 1871 )

Chandramouli, S. R., 2022, Snake fauna of the Andaman Islands, Bay of Bengal-A review of species richness taxonomy, distribution, natural history and conservation status, Zootaxa 5209 (3), pp. 301-331 : 307-308

Dendrelaphis andamanensis ( Anderson, 1871)

( Figs. 6G&H , 11D )

Material studied: Two adults; ANFD uncatalogued, an adult from Mayabunder, Middle Andaman; CIARI uncatalogued, an adult from Sippighat, South Andaman ( Fig. 3F ).

Morphology:Dorsal scales elongated, slender and smooth, in 15:15:11 rows; mid dorsal row enlarged, hexagonal; ventrals 179–183; preventrals 2; subcaudals 118–132, divided; preocular 1; postoculars 2; anal divided; supralabials 9 (5–6 entering orbit); infralabials 11 (1–6 contacting genials); temporals 2+2, loreal 1. This species undergoes intensive ontogenetic colour change with the juveniles being dark brown dorsally and pale green ventrally, the adolescent individuals being greenish brown dorsally, which turns to verdant green with black edged dorsal scales as they become adults. Tongue bright red.

Distribution: A diurnal species found throughout the Andaman archipelago. Several individuals were recorded from South, Middle, North and Little Andaman Islands, Long, Tarmugli, Guitar, Paget, Interview, Havelock, Neil, North Passage, North Reef and Rutland Islands. Found mostly on shrubs and bushes. On one occasion, a juvenile was seen in a thatched roof of human habitation. Occurs in a range of habitats from primary evergreen, secondary forests, littoral forests and home gardens. On one occasion, a juvenile D. andamanensis was observed feeding on a juvenile Phelsuma andamanensis in a home garden in Long Island.

Remarks: It was originally described as a subspecies of D. pictus (Gmelin, 1789) and later elevated to species from subspecies status by Vogel & Van Rooijen (2011). Populations from Little Andaman Island have thicker, dark blackish dorsal scale boundaries than the population on other islands, giving them an overall, darker appearance (Pers. Obs., M. Chandi pers. comm.).

Status: Common and endemic to the Andaman archipelago.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Specimens studied: (A) Indotyphlops braminus (CIARI uncat.), (B) Gerrhopilus andamanensis (NMW 15427), (C) Acrochordus granulatus (CSPT/S-75), (D) Fowlea tytleri (CIARI uncat.), (E) Lycodon hypsirhinoides (ZSI 8145, inset: CIARI uncat.), (F) Dendrelaphis andamanensis (CIARI uncat.), (G) Boiga andamanensis (CIARI uncat.), (H) Chrysopelea paradisi (photo: O.D. Adhikari)

FIGURE 6. (A) Indotyphlops braminus (South Andaman), (B) Argyrophis oatesii (South Andaman), (C & D) Fowlea tytleri— blotched and striped morphs (South Andaman), (E & F) Adult and juvenile Lycodon hypsirhinoides (Long Island), (G & H) Adult and juvenile Dendrelaphis andamanensis (Long Island)

FIGURE 11. Locality records of (A): Indotyphlops braminus and Argyrophis oatesii (B) Gerarda prevostiana, Acrochordus granulatus, Cerberus rynchops and Cantoria violacea (C) Fowlea tytleri and Lycodon hypsirhinoides (D) Dendrelaphis andamanensis and Chrysopelea paradisi