Ahaetulla prasina

Ahaetulla prasina
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Subfamily:	Ahaetuliinae
Genus:	Ahaetulla
Species:	A. prasina
Binomial name
	Ahaetulla prasina; (Boie, 1827)
Synonyms
	Dryophis prasinus Boie, 1827

Ahaetulla prasina is an arboreal, moderately venomous species of opisthoglyphous vine snake in the family Colubridae, found in Southern and Southeast Asia. Its common names include the Asian vine snake, Boie's whip snake, Gunther's whip snake, and the Oriental whip snake (Tagalog: puno ng ubas ahas; Thai: งูเขียวหัวจิ้งจก; Indonesian: ular anggur).^[1]

Etymology[edit]

The species name prasina is from the Greek word prasinos for the color green.^[2]

Taxonomy[edit]

It belongs to the genus Ahaetulla, one of five genera within the subfamily Ahaetuliinae. Recent studies have found it to be paraphyletic and in need of taxonomic revision, as shown in the cladogram below:^[3]

Ahaetuliinae

sharp‑nosed snakes

Ahaetulla

	Ahaetulla prasina (paraphyletic)

	Ahaetulla fasciolata

Ahaetulla prasina (paraphyletic)

	Ahaetulla prasina (paraphyletic)

	Ahaetulla mycterizans

Ahaetulla prasina (paraphyletic)

	Ahaetulla anomala

	Ahaetulla pulverulenta

Ahaetulla nasuta (paraphyletic)

Ahaetulla fronticincta

Proahaetulla antiqua

Dryophiops

broad‑nosed snakes

	Dendrelaphis

	Chrysopelea

Subspecies[edit]

Four subspecies are recognized, including the nominate race.

Ahaetulla prasina medioxima Lazell, 2002
Ahaetulla prasina preocularis (Taylor, 1922): Philippine Islands, including Sulu Archipelago, Panay, Luzon.
Ahaetulla prasina prasina (Boie, 1827)
Ahaetulla prasina suluensis Gaulke, 1994: Philippine Islands, Sulu Archipelago

Distribution[edit]

This snake has a wide distribution in Asia, where it occurs in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.^[1]

Description[edit]

The body form is extremely slender with a long, pointed, projecting snout which is rather more than twice as long as the eye. Adult colouration varies from light brown to dull yellow-green and often a startling fluorescent green.^[4] Adults may attain 1.8 m (6 feet) in total length, with a tail 0.6 m (2 feet) long.^[5]^[6] Its appearance is very much like those of South American vine snakes. This is due to convergent evolution, as they are not closely related.

It is a rear-fanged species and is mildly venomous but is not considered a threat to humans.^[2] It is diurnal, active during the day.^[2]

Diet[edit]

The Asian vine snake feeds on small reptiles and amphibians, particularly lizards and tree frogs.

In captivity[edit]

In recent years, it has entered the pet trade and has become quite popular among hobbyists.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c Thy, N.; Nguyen, T.Q.; Golynsky, E.; Demegillo, A.; Diesmos, A.C.; Gonzalez, J.C. (2012). "Ahaetulla prasina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T176329A1439072. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T176329A1439072.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ahaetulla mycterizans at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 20 October 2014.
^ Mallik, Ashok Kumar; Achyuthan, N. Srikanthan; Ganesh, Sumaithangi R.; Pal, Saunak P.; Vijayakumar, S. P.; Shanker, Kartik (27 July 2019). "Discovery of a deeply divergent new lineage of vine snake (Colubridae: Ahaetuliinae: Proahaetulla gen. nov.) from the southern Western Ghats of Peninsular India with a revised key for Ahaetuliinae". PLOS ONE. 14 (7): e0218851. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1418851M. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218851. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 6636718. PMID 31314800.
^ "Oriental Whip Snake". Ecology Asia.
^ Boulenger, G.A. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III. London.
^ Boulenger, G.A. 1890. Fauna of British India. Reptilia and Batrachia. British Museum. London. p. 369.