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).