Ahaetulla fronticincta
Günther's whipsnake, Burmese vine snake or river vine snake (Ahaetulla fronticincta) is a species of snake found in bushes and other low vegetation along tidal rivers and mangrove in coastal parts of Myanmar (Burma).[1][2][3] There are also old records from neighbouring northeastern India (Assam and Darjeeling), but these are considered questionable and it has not been located there during recent surveys.[1][3] It is generally common in appropriate habitats within its known range.[1]
| Günther's whipsnake | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Ahaetulla |
| Species: | A. fronticincta |
| Binomial name | |
| Ahaetulla fronticincta (Günther, 1858) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Dryophis fronticinctus | |
This diurnal, mildly venomous snake feeds only on fish.[1][2][3] It is slender, up to about 1 m (3 ft) long, and either green or brownish with a paler underside.[2] It is ovoviviparous.[2]
Food
This snake feeds only on fish.[1] It strikes at a fish in water while maintaining half of its body wrapped around a branch or twig. The mild venom of this snake renders the fish immobile.
References
- Wogan, G. & Vogel, G. (2012). "Ahaetulla fronticincta". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2012: e.T192058A2034357. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192058A2034357.en. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
- Das, I. (2010). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-East Asia. Pp. 259-260. New Holland Publishers, UK. ISBN 978-1-84773-347-4
- Reptile Database (2016). Ahaetulla fronticincta. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- Boulenger, George A. 1890 The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. Taylor & Francis, London, xviii, 541 pp.
- Günther, A. 1858 Catalogue of Colubrine snakes of the British Museum. London, I - XVI, 1 - 281
