Published November 17, 2022 | Version v1
Taxonomic treatment Open

Chrysopelea paradisi Boie 1827

Authors/Creators

Description

Chrysopelea paradisi Boie, 1827

(Fig. 7C, 11D)

Material studied: Two adults, BNHS 2865, BNHS 2875 (Fig. 3H), from Narcondam Island.

Morphology: Dorsal scales smooth, in 16–17:17:13 rows; ventrals 221–229; subcaudals 124, divided; anal divided; supralabials 9 (4–6 entering orbit); preocular 1; postoculars 2; temporals 2+2. Overall colouration black with green spots in each scale and red spots on dorsal scales. Venter uniform pale green.

Distribution: A diurnal non-endemic species restricted to Narcondam Island in the Andaman archipelago. Not found in any other island within the main Andaman chain of islands.

Remarks: The two specimens specified here were collected by the police personnel and reported during an expedition to Narcondam by Humayun Abdulali of the BNHS in early 1969-70 (Abdulali, 1971) that were recently dealt with by Chandramouli and Adhikari (2022). A fairly recent survey on this island has not recorded this species (Raman et al., 2013). It is widespread in other parts of Southeast Asia (Whitaker and Captain, 2004) and absent on other islands of the Andaman archipelago.

Status: Rare.

Notes

Published as part of Chandramouli, S. R., 2022, Snake fauna of the Andaman Islands, Bay of Bengal-A review of species richness taxonomy, distribution, natural history and conservation status, pp. 301-331 in Zootaxa 5209 (3) on page 310, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5209.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/7329609

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Linked records

Additional details

Biodiversity

Scientific name authorship
Boie
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Order
Squamata
Family
Colubridae
Genus
Chrysopelea
Species
paradisi
Taxon rank
species
Taxonomic concept label
Chrysopelea paradisi Boie, 1827 sec. Chandramouli, 2022

References

  • Abdulali, H. (1971) Narcondam Island and notes on some birds from the Andaman Islands. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 68, 385 - 411.
  • Chandramouli, S. R. & Adhikari, O. D. (2022) Recent sighting record of the paradise flying snake Chrysopelea paradisi Boie, 1827 (Reptilia: Colubridae) from Narcondam, Andaman Islands. Sauria, 44 (3), 50 - 52.
  • Whitaker, R. & Captain, A. (2004) Snakes of India - the field guide. Draco Books, Chennai, 500 pp.