CLASSIFICATION OF DENDROPHIS : TREE SNAKE
PHYLUM :- CHORDATA (Notochord, dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill slits present )
Group :- CRANIATA ( Definite head. Cranium with brain present )
Sub-phylum :- VERTEBRATA ( vertebral column present)
Division :- GNATHOSTOMATA ( Jaws and paired appendages present )
Super class :- TETRAPODA ( Paired limbs, lungs, bony skeleton and cornified skin)
Class :- REPTILIA ( Scaly vertebrates with right and left aortic arches. Single condyle, pulmonary respiration. Embryo with amnion and allantois ).
Sub-class :- DIAPSIDA ( Skull with two temporal openings separated by postorbital and squamosal ).
Order :- SQUAMATA ( Lizards and snakes with horny epidermal scales or shields. Quadrate bone movable. Vertebrae procoelous. Anal opening transverse).
Sub-order :- OPHIDIA ( Snakes. Limbs, feet, ear openings sternum and urinary bladder absent. Mandibles jointed anteriorly by ligament. Tongue slender, bifid and protrusible. Left lung reduced).
Family :- COLUBRIDAE ( facial bones movable, no fang ).
GENUS :- Dendrophis
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Dendrophis or Tree Snake is found in Asia, South America and Australia.
HABIT AND HABITAT
IT is adapted for arboreal life, They prey on birds and on arboreal lizards and frogs. Diurnal and oviparous.
GENERAL CHARACTERSTICS OF DENDROPHIS : TREE SNAKE
- Commonly called as tree snake.
- Flying snakes, mangrove snakes, vine snakes, and whip snakes are sometimes called tree snakes.
- Dendrophis or Tree Snakes are harmless and non-poisonous snake.
- Snake is elongated and cylindrical with pointed tail measuring about 2 metres in length and having yellow stripes.
- Body divided into head, neck, trunk and tail. Head contains mouth and eyes.
- Head is large and covered by large plate-like keeled shields forming 13 or 15 rows.
- Scales of vertebral row enlarged. Belly scales plate-like while side scales are small.
- Ventrals have a pair of suture-like lateral keel and notch on sides which helps in climbing.
- Fangs absent but teeth present.
Eyes covered with transparent and fused membrane. Tympanic membrane absent.
IDENTIFICATION
This snake contains keel and notch on sides and above features, hence it is Dendrophis or Tree snake.
REFERENCES
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_snake
- Book of Practical Zoology VERTEBRATE by S.S.LAL – Rastogi Publications.
- https://www.britannica.com/animal/tree-snake
- sources of images -https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.qfc.com.au%2Fcommon-tree-snake%2F&psig=AOvVaw32ZdRCWkgTsARg2f6WYOq6&ust=1602686446195000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwjN7-Gz5rHsAhWTCLcAHZ-gBFkQr4kDegUIARDkAQ
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2Fanimal%2Ftree-snake&psig=AOvVaw32ZdRCWkgTsARg2f6WYOq6&ust=1602686446195000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwjN7-Gz5rHsAhWTCLcAHZ-gBFkQr4kDegUIARClAg
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmurwillumbahsnakecatchers.com.au%2Fbrown-tree-snake&psig=AOvVaw32ZdRCWkgTsARg2f6WYOq6&ust=1602686446195000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwjN7-Gz5rHsAhWTCLcAHZ-gBFkQr4kDegUIARCnAg
