Dendrelaphis cyanochloris

{{Speciesbox

| name = Wall's bronzeback

| image = Dendrelaphis cyanochloris, Blue bronzeback.jpg

| image_caption = Dendrelaphis cyanochloris

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Richman, N. |author2=Böhm, M. |date=2010 |title=Dendrelaphis cyanochloris |volume=2010 |page=e.T176783A7303949 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-4.RLTS.T176783A7303949.en |access-date=20 November 2021}}

| genus = Dendrelaphis

| species = cyanochloris

| authority = (Wall, 1921)

| synonyms =* Dendrophis pictus Wall, 1921

Ahaetulla cyanochloris Wall, 1921
Dendrophis boiga subspecies cyanochloris Wall, 1921
Dendrophis pictus subspecies cyanochlorisWall, 1921

}}

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

Taxonomy

Dendrelaphis cyanochloris belongs to the genus Dendrelaphis, which contains 48 other described species.{{EMBL genus|genus=Dendrelaphis}}. D. cyanochloris is most closely related to Dendrelaphis ngansonensis, and together the two might form a species complex.

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:{{Cite journal |last1=Mallik |first1=Ashok Kumar |last2=Achyuthan |first2=N. Srikanthan |last3=Ganesh |first3=Sumaithangi R. |last4=Pal |first4=Saunak P. |last5=Vijayakumar |first5=S. P. |last6=Shanker |first6=Kartik |date=27 July 2019 |title=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 |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=14 |issue=7 |pages=e0218851 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0218851 |pmid=31314800 |pmc=6636718 |issn=1932-6203 |bibcode=2019PLoSO..1418851M |doi-access=free}}

{{clade|style=font-size:85%;line-height:85%

|label1=Ahaetuliinae

|1={{clade

|label1=sharp-nosed snakes

|1={{clade

|1=Ahaetulla

|2=Proahaetulla }}

|2=Dryophiops }}

|label2=broad-nosed snakes

|2={{clade

|label1=Dendrelaphis

|1={{clade

|1=Dendrelaphis marenae

|2=Dendrelaphis haasi }}

|2=Dendrelaphis pictus }}

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=Dendrelaphis ngansonensis

|2=Dendrelaphis cyanochloris }}

|2=Dendrelaphis striatus }} }}

|2=Dendrelaphis formosus }}

|2={{clade

|1={{clade

|1=Dendrelaphis tristis

|2=Dendrelaphis subocularis }}

|2=Dendrelaphis schokari }}

|2={{clade

|1=Dendrelaphis fuliginosus

|2=Dendrelaphis caudolineatus }} }} }}

|2=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.{{NRDB species|genus=Dendrelaphis|species=cyanochloris|date=28 July|year=2022}}

Behavior

File:Wall's Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis cyanochloris) (Detail of the dorsal scales) (8687722041).jpg

Like other bronzebacks, this snake is diurnal and fully arboreal, and has oviparous reproduction.

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.

Dendrelaphis cyanochloris

Taxonomy

Distribution

Behavior

Conservation

References

Further reading