Dendrelaphis ngansonensis

Dendrelaphis ngansonensis, commonly known as either the Nganson bronzeback or Nganson bronzeback tree snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae, sound in Southeast Asia.

Dendrelaphis ngansonensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Ahaetuliinae
Genus: Dendrelaphis
Species:
D. ngansonensis
Binomial name
Dendrelaphis ngansonensis
(Bourret, 1935)
Synonyms[2]

Dendrophis pictus ngansonensis Bourret, 1935

Etymology

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The species name ngansonensis is named after the type locality of the Ngân Sơn district of Tonkin, North Vietnam.[2]

Taxonomy

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Dendrelaphis ngansonensis belongs to the genus Dendrelaphis, which contains 48 other described species.[3] D. ngansonensis is most closely related to Dendrelaphis cyanochloris, and together the two might form a species complex.[2]

Dendrelaphis is one of five genera belonging to the vine snake subfamily Ahaetuliinae, of which Dendrelaphis is most closely related to Chrysopelea, as shown in the cladogram below:[4]

Distribution

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The species is found in Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and southwestern China (Yunnan).[1][2]

Habitat and behaviour

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Dendrelaphis ngansonensis is an arboreal snake[1][2] that occurs in both primary and secondary forests. It preys upon small vertebrates.[1] It has been found to be both diurnal and nocturnal, and has oviparous reproduction.[2]

References

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