Dendrelaphis cyanochloris ( Wall, 1921 )

Biakzuala, Lal, Lalremsanga, Hmar Tlawmte, Tariang, Angshuman Das, Vabeiryureilai, Mathipi, Muansanga, Lal, Hrima, Vanlal, Kumar, Vikas, Kundu, Shantanu, Purkayastha, Jayaditya & Vogel, Gernot, 2022, Contributions to the taxonomic status and molecular phylogeny of Asian Bronzeback Snakes (Colubridae, Ahaetuliinae, Dendrelaphis Boulenger, 1890), from Mizoram State, Northeast India, Zoosystema 44 (7), pp. 177-196 : 182

Dendrelaphis cyanochloris ( Wall, 1921)

( Figs 1C ; 7A )

Dendrophis pictus var. cyanochloris Wall, 1921: 155 .

Dendrophis boiga cyanochloris – Meise & Hennig 1932.

Ahaetulla cyanochloris – Smith 1940: 482; 1943: 244.

Dendrelaphis cyanochloris – Manthey & Grossmann 1997: 337. — Cox et al. 1998: 70. — Wallach et al. 2014: 216.

TYPE MATERIAL EXAMINED. — Lectotype (as designated by Vogel & van Rooijen 2007). India • 1 ♂; BMNH1940.3.4.27 .

TYPE LOCALITY.—Based on the designation of a lectotype by Vogel & van Rooijen (2007): “Darjeeling”, West Bengal State, India. The original description of D. cyanochloris was partly based on specimens from India (Eastern Himalaya and Assam) and “ Burma ”, now Myanmar, as well as specimens of D. humayuni Tiwari & Biswas, 1973 .

M ATERIAL EXAMINED. — India • 1 ♀; Mizoram, Saitual District, Keifang ; 23°39’31”N, 92°57’38”E; 1035 m a.s.l.; 3.VII.2009; H. T. Lalremsanga leg. MZMU153 • 1 ♂; Mizoram, Aizawl District, Durtlang ; 23°47’35”N, 92°44’1”E; 1104 m a.s.l.; 1.X.2019; Lal Biakzuala leg.; GenBank: MT711165 ; MZMU985 ; • 1♂; Mizoram, Siaha District, Palak National Wetland ; 22°12’11”N, 92°53’6”E; 290 m a.s.l.; 3.V.2017; M. Vabeiryureilai leg.; MZMU1102 • 1♂; Mizoram, Mamit District, Dampa Tiger Reserve ; 23°41’16”N, 92°26’43”E; 454 m a.s.l.; 9.V.2019; Ht. Decemson leg.; MZMU1472 • 1 ♂; Mizoram, Mamit District, Lengpui ; 23°50’11”N, 92°38’5”E; 210 m a.s.l.; 5.IV.2016; Vanlal Hrima leg.; MZMU1473 • 1 ♀; Mizoram, Mamit District, Reiek Community Reserved Forest ; 23°41’22”N, 92°36’16”E; 1300 m a.s.l.; 23.VI.2018; Lal Muansanga leg.; MZMU1476 • 1♀; Mizoram, Aizawl District , MZU campus; 23°44’17”N, 92°40’6”E; 873 m a.s.l.; 11.VIII.2019; Angshuman Das leg.; MZMU1560 • 1 ♂; Mizoram, Aizawl District, Sawleng ; 23°58’52”N, 92°56’0”E; 1107 m a.s.l.; 4.VII.2009; Tbc. Lalbiaknunmawia leg.; MZMU1593 .

Myanmar • 1 ♂; Kachin State, Putao District; CAS221428 ; GenBank : KX660454 ( Figueroa et al. 2016) .

DIAGNOSIS (BASED ON NEW MATERIAL). — The specimens of D. cyanochloris (N=8) are diagnosed by the combination of: 1) bronzecoloured body with conspicuous bluish interstitial skin, large black postocular streak from eye to nape, absence of lateral stripes along the body, and greenish underside; 2) Ve 184-207 in males, 183-210 in females; 3) paired Sc 138-153 in males, 138-144 in females; 4) divided As; 5) Ls single; 6) PrO 1; 7) PoO 2; 8) Te 2+2 or 3+2, rarely 1+2; 9) 4th-6th SLE; 10) IF 9-10; 11) SL 9; 12) DSR 15:15:11, rarely nine rows; and 13) average RTaL 0.32(0.30-0.36) in males, 0.29 (0.25-0.33) in females. The new materials from Mizoram, Northeast India enlarged the following morphological attributes (values for the lectotype are given in parentheses): Ve 184-207 in males and 183-210 in females (201); DSR at one head length before the vent 11, and rarely nine (11); SLE 4th-6th (5th-6th).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. — India (Darjeeling and Mizoram), the range of distribution is also discussed. In this study, specimens of D. cyanochloris were documented from 10 different localities at elevations between 100-1300 m a.s.l. from Mizoram, Northeast India ( Fig. 5 ; Appendix 1).

Figures

FIG. 1. — A, sub-adult Dendrelaphis proarchos Wall, 1909 from Mizoram, NE India; B, everted hemipenial sulcal side (right) and asulcal side (left) of Dendrelaphis proarchos from Mizoram, NE India; C, Adult Dendrelaphis cyanochloris (Wall, 1921) from Mizoram, NE India. Scale bar: B, 5 mm.

FIG. 7. — A, Dendrelaphis cyanochloris (Wall, 1921) preying on adult Calotes emma Gray, 1845, photographed by R. Lalnunmawia; B, Dendrelaphis proarchos Wall,1909 preying on adult Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider,1799), photographed by Hawla Hmar Zote.

FIG. 5. — Elevation map showing the specimens location of Dendrelaphis proarchos Wall, 1909 (green shapes), Dendrelaphis biloreatus Wall, 1908 (yellow shapes), Dendrelaphis cyanochloris (Wall, 1921) (red shapes), Dendrelaphis cf. vogeli LSUHC 6768 (purple circle with dot), and Dendelaphis cf. ngansonensis CAS221428 (blue circle with dot) examined in this study. Confirmed populations of Dendrelaphis proarchos (green circles) and Dendrelaphis biloreatus (yellow triangles) are based on Vogel & van Rooijen (2011a, b).