Login With Google
New species of Vine Snake
Why is it in News?
- Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have discovered new species of vine snakes in the region.
Vine Snakes:
- These are most common snakes in peninsular India.
- They found also in peri-urban areas wherever there is some greenery, and in the Western Ghats.
- Asian vine snakes, distributed throughout the continent, belong to the genus Ahaetulla andthe recently described Proahaetulla.
- Four distinct small-bodied and short-nosed species in Western Ghats rain-forests:
(1) the Northern Western Ghats vine snake,
(2) Farnsworth’s vine snake,
(3) Malabar vine snake
(4) Wall’s vine snake.
- The venom is moderately potent and can cause swelling, pain, bruising, numbness and other local symptoms.
