Lycodon deccanensis

Lycodon deccanensis, the Deccan wolf snake, is a recently described (in 2020) species of nocturnal, non-venomous colubrid snake endemic to Southern India. It was previously mistaken for another related species, Lycodon travancoricus, but later taxonomic studies revealed its distinctiveness.[1]

Lycodon deccanensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Lycodon
Species:
L. deccanensis
Binomial name
Lycodon deccanensis
Ganesh, Deuti, Punith, Achyuthan, Mallik, Adhikari, Vogel, 2020

Morphology

This is a rather small and slender Lycodon with large bulgy eyes. The back is coffee brown in adults, but black in juveniles, with a series of white cross bar-like patterns on the back and sides of the body, giving a white-mottled appearance.

Etymology

The snake is named after the Deccan plateau in India.

Distribution

This species was described from Devarayana Durga, a hill fort near Bangalore. Other specimens were discovered from nearby hilly areas such as the Horsley Hills and Tirumalai in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh as well as Melagiri or Hogenekkal Hills in Krishnakgiri-Dharmapuri districts and Anaikatti Hills, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu.

The snake inhabits hilly tracts (600–1100 m asl) covered with mixed deciduous forest vegetation.[2][3]

Natural history

This is a poorly-known species and its biology remains largely unknown. A nocturnal snake. Young ones were seen ascending tree trunks and building walls up to 1.5 m height, while adults were encountered on ground and as dead ones hit by vehicle while crossing roads. It is presumed to be egg-laying.

References
  1. Ganesh, SR; Deuti, K; Punith, KG; Achyuthan, NS; Mallik, AK; Vogel, Gernot (2020). "A new species of Lycodon (Serpentes: Colubridae) from the Deccan Plateau of India, with notes on the range of Lycodon travancoricus (Beddome, 1870) and a revised key to peninsular Indian forms". Amphibian & Reptile Conservation. 17 (3): 74–84.
  2. Ganesh, S.R.; S., Bhupathy; P., Karthik; S., Babu Rao; S., Babu (2020). "Catalogue of herpetological specimens at the Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, India". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 12 (9): 16,123–16,135. doi:10.11609/jott.6036.12.9.16123-16135.
  3. Ganesh, S.R. (2018). "Herpetofauna of Southern Eastern Ghats, India–II; from Western Ghats to Coromandel Coast". Asian Journal of Conservation Biology. 7 (1): 28–45.
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