Dendrelaphis humayuni
Dendrelaphis humayuni, also known commonly as the Nicobar bronzeback[2] or Tiwari's bronzeback, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Nicobar Islands of India.[3]
| Tiwari's Bronzeback | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Dendrelaphis |
| Species: | D. humayuni |
| Binomial name | |
| Dendrelaphis humayuni | |
Etymology
D. humayuni was named after Humayun Abdulali.[1]
Geographic range
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.[4]
Characteristics
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.[4]
References
- 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).
- 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.
- Dendrelaphis humayuni at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 1 September 2020.
- 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
- Sharma RC (2003). Handbook: Indian Snakes. Kolkata: Zoological Survey of India. 292 pp. ISBN 978-8181711694.
- Whitaker R, Captain A (2008). Snakes of India: The Field Guide. Chennai: Draco Books. 495 pp. ISBN 978-8190187305.