Dendrelaphis humayuni, also known commonly as the Nicobar bronzeback[3] or Tiwari's bronzeback, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Nicobar Islands of India.[1][4]

Dendrelaphis humayuni
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Dendrelaphis
Species:
D. humayuni
Binomial name
Dendrelaphis humayuni

Etymology edit

D. humayuni was named after Humayun Abdulali.[2]

Geographic range edit

D. humayuni is a widely distributed species found in the central and southern Nicobar Islands, but absent from Car Nicobar. The island of Chowra appears to be its northern range boundary, and Great Nicobar Island is its southern range boundary. There is a single record of this species from Camorta Island of Nicobar collected by Wall.[5]

Characteristics edit

D. humayuni averages a length of 1 m (39 in). It has 172–190 ventral scales. There are 9 supralabials, with 5th and 6th touching the eye in most cases. D. humayuni is mostly confused with Dendrelaphis pictus andamanensis.[5]

Behavior edit

D. humayuni is diurnal and arboreal.[4]

Diet edit

D. humayuni preys upon frogs.[3]

Reproduction edit

D. humayuni is oviparous.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Mohapatra, P. (2021). "Dendrelaphis humayuni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T202841A2757264. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b Tiwari, Krishna Kant; Sayantan Biswas (1973). "Two new reptiles from the Great Nicobar Islands". Journal of the Zoological Society of India. 25 (1–2): 57–63. (Dendrelaphis humayuni, new species).
  3. ^ a b Rangasamy V, Sivaperuman C, Ashaharraza K (2018). "Predation on a Nicobar Frog, Amnirana nicobariensis (Stoliczka 1879), by a Nicobar Bronzeback, Dendrelaphis humayuni (Tiwari and Biswas 1973), from Great Nicobar Island, Republic of India". IRCF (International Reptile Conservation Foundation) Reptiles & Amphibians: Conservation and Natural History 25 (2): 145–147.
  4. ^ a b c Dendrelaphis humayuni at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 1 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b Vijayakumar SP, David P (2006). "Taxonomy, natural history, and distribution of the snakes of the Nicobar Islands (India), based on new materials and with an emphasis on endemic species". Russian Journal of Herpetology 13 (1): 11–40.

Further reading edit