Colubridae
Brown-speckled Whipsnake
HarmlessAhaetulla pulverulenta
The Brown-speckled Whipsnake (Ahaetulla pulverulenta) is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 5 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Brown-speckled Whipsnake
Brown-speckled whipsnake or brown vine snake (Ahaetulla pulverulenta) is a species of colubrid vine snake endemic to Sri Lanka.
Etymology
It is known as හෙනකදයා (henakadaya) in Sinhala; this name provided the name anaconda.
The species name pulverulenta is from Latin, named after its ashy or dusty grayish brown coloration.
Taxonomy
It belongs to the genus Ahaetulla, one of five genera within the subfamily Ahaetuliinae. The relationships of Ahaetulla pulverulenta to some other Ahaetulla species, and to the other genera within Ahaetuliinae, can be shown in the cladogram below, with possible paraphyletic species noted:
Distribution and habitat
It is found exclusively in Sri Lanka. Populations in the Western Ghats of India are now considered a separate species, Ahaetulla sahyadrensis.
It lives in forests and is fully arboreal.
Description
Its slender body can be up to 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) long from snout to tail, and is grayish-brown colored, with darker blackish spots above and a gray or brown underside. It has a pointed snout, ending in a dermal appendage at the tip. It has a dark brown rhomboidal spot on the top of the head, and a brown stripe on each side of the head passing through the eye.
Large, transversely oval eye with horizontal pupil; gray or brown, with darker brown spots and dark brown cross or cross-shaped markings.
Behavior
It feeds on lizards and other invertebrates, and it is ovoviviparous, giving birth to 5-15 live offspring.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Brown-speckled Whipsnake
- Is the Brown-speckled Whipsnake venomous?
- The Brown-speckled Whipsnake (Ahaetulla pulverulenta) is rear-fanged and only mildly venomous. It is not considered dangerous to humans (its venom is weak and its fangs sit at the back of the mouth) but a bite can cause local swelling or irritation, so it should not be handled.
- Is the Brown-speckled Whipsnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Brown-speckled Whipsnake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Brown-speckled Whipsnake dangerous?
- The Brown-speckled Whipsnake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Brown-speckled Whipsnake live?
- The Brown-speckled Whipsnake has verified records in 5 countries, including Sri Lanka, India, Thailand. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Brown-speckled Whipsnake?
- It is known as හෙනකදයා (henakadaya) in Sinhala; this name provided the name anaconda. The species name pulverulenta is from Latin, named after its ashy or dusty grayish brown coloration.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Oriental WhipsnakeAhaetulla prasina
Indian Vine SnakeAhaetulla oxyrhynca
Northern Western Ghats Vine SnakeAhaetulla borealis
Long-nosed WhipsnakeAhaetulla nasuta
Malayan WhipsnakeAhaetulla mycterizans
Indochinese Long-nosed WhipsnakeAhaetulla fusca
Farnsworth's Vine SnakeAhaetulla farnsworthi
Malabar Vine SnakeAhaetulla malabarica
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Ahaetulla
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Ahaetulla pulverulenta
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.