Dendrelaphis cyanochloris

Dendrelaphis cyanochloris, commonly known as Wall's bronzeback or the blue bronzeback, is a species of colubrid snake found in Southeast Asia.

Wall's bronzeback
Dendrelaphis cyanochloris
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Subfamily:	Ahaetuliinae
Genus:	Dendrelaphis
Species:	D. cyanochloris
Binomial name
Dendrelaphis cyanochloris (Wall, 1921)
Synonyms
Dendrophis pictus Wall, 1921 Ahaetulla cyanochloris Wall, 1921 Dendrophis boiga subspecies cyanochloris Wall, 1921 Dendrophis pictus subspecies cyanochlorisWall, 1921

Taxonomy

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

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]

Ahaetuliinae	sharp‑nosed snakes Ahaetulla Proahaetulla Dryophiops broad‑nosed snakes Dendrelaphis Dendrelaphis marenae Dendrelaphis haasi Dendrelaphis pictus Dendrelaphis ngansonensis Dendrelaphis cyanochloris Dendrelaphis striatus Dendrelaphis formosus Dendrelaphis tristis Dendrelaphis subocularis Dendrelaphis schokari Dendrelaphis fuliginosus Dendrelaphis caudolineatus Chrysopelea

Distribution

The species occurs in India (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh (Namdapha - Changlang district); Andaman Islands, northern parts of West Bengal), Bangladesh, Myanmar, southern Thailand, and western Malaysia (Pulau Pinang, Pahang, Pulau Tioman), possibly also in Bhutan. It is predominantly arboreal and inhabits primary and mature secondary lowland rainforest, at altitudes of up to 1,000 m.^[1][3]

Behavior

closeup of dorsal scales

Like other bronzebacks, this snake is diurnal and fully arboreal, and has oviparous reproduction.^[3]

Conservation

Common and widespread, Wall's bronzeback is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, although it is likely impacted by localized habitat loss and degradation from agricultural expansion and logging.^[1]