Dendrelaphis biloreatus (often called Gore's bronzeback or referred to as the Himalayan bronzeback) is a species of tree snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Asia.
| Dendrelaphis biloreatus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Dendrelaphis |
| Species: | D. biloreatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Dendrelaphis biloreatus | |
| Synonyms[4] | |
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Geographic range edit
D. biloreatus can be found in parts of Northeast India (Darjeeling, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh), northern Myanmar, and Western China (Tibet); it is also reported from Vietnam.[1][4][a]
Habitat edit
The preferred natural habitats of D. biloreatus are forest and shrubland, but it has also been found in agricultural areas.[1]
Description edit
D. biloreatus is highly variable, typically non-venomous (some have enlarged rear fangs and toxic saliva) with large, regular scales on the head.
Behavior edit
Reproduction edit
Taxonomy edit
Dendrelaphis biloreatus was originally described by Wall in 1908 as a species new to science. In 1910 Wall described another new species, Dendrelaphis gorei. In 1943 M.A. Smith determined that Dendrelaphis biloreatus and Dendrophis gorei are the same species, which he placed in the genus Ahaetulla, as Ahaetulla gorei. Since then, this species has been referred to as both Dendrelaphis biloreatus and Dendrelaphis gorei. By precedence Dendrelaphis biloreatus is the correct scientific name, and Dendrelaphis gorei is a junior synonym.
Etymology edit
The junior synonym Dendrelaphis gorei was named in honor of British army officer St. George Corbet Gore.[5]
References edit
- ^ a b c Richman N; Böhm M (2010). "Dendrelaphis gorei ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2010: e.T176784A7304193. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T176784A7304193.en.
- ^ Wall F (1908). "Two new Snakes from Assam". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 18: 272–274 + one plate. (Dendrelaphis biloreatus, new species, pp. 273–274 + plate figures 1–5).
- ^ Wall F (1910). "Notes on Snakes collected in Upper Assam. Part II". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 19 (4): 825–845 + one plate. (Dendrophis gorei, new species, pp. 829–830 + plate figures 1–3).
- ^ a b c d Dendrelaphis biloreatus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database
- ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Dendrelaphis gorei, p. 104).
- ^ Not included in the map in IUCN (2010); marked uncertain in the Reptile Database.
Further reading edit
- Smith MA (1943). The Fauna of British India, Ceylon and Burma, Containing the Whole of the Indo-Chinese Sub-region. Reptilia and Amphibia. Vol. III.—Serpentes. London: Secretary of State for India. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xii + 583 pp. (Ahætulla gorei, new combination, p. 246).
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