Coelognathus flavolineatus (Schlegel, 1837)

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, Zootaxa 5209 (3), pp. 301-331 : 310

Coelognathus flavolineatus (Schlegel, 1837)

( Fig. 7E , 12B )

Material studied: One adult, CIARI uncatalogued, from Sippighat, South Andaman ( Fig. 4B ).

Morphology: Dorsal scales smooth, in 21:19:17 rows; ventrals 230; subcaudals 92, divided; anal single; supralabials 9 (4–6 entering orbit); infralabials 10 (1–7 contacting genials); preocular 1; postoculars 2; loreal 1; temporals 2+2/3. Forebody yellowish to grayish brown, posterior half of the body and tail often black. Black eyestreaks prominent; venter pale yellow.

Distribution: Five individuals were recorded from South Andaman and Middle Andaman in a variety of habitats ranging from evergreen forests, occasionally in home gardens and amidst human habitation crossing roads.A diurnal species. A roadkill was observed in North Andaman.

Remarks: Non-endemic, distributed widely throughout most parts of Southeast Asia ( Whitaker and Captain, 2004).

Status: Uncommon.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Specimens studied: (A) Ptyas mucosa (CIARI uncat.), (B) Coelognathus flavolineatus (CIARI uncat.), (C) Gonyosoma oxycephalum (CIARI uncat.), (D) Cantoria violacea (CIARI uncat.), (E) Cerberus rynchops (CIARI uncat.), (F) Boiga cyanea (ZSI/ANRC/T/13497), (G) Bungarus andamanensis (CIARI uncat.), (H) Naja sagittifera (CIARI uncat.)

FIGURE 7. (A & B) Adult (Long Island) and juvenile (South Andaman) Boiga andamanensis, (C) Chrysopelea paradisi (Narcondm, photo:Andaman Police Dept.) (D) Ptyas mucosa (Long Island), (E) Coelognathus flavolineatus (South Andaman), (F) Gonyosoma oxycephalum (Middle Andaman, photo: S. Basu) and (G) Cerberus rynchops (South Andaman)

FIGURE 12. Locality records of (A): Boiga andamanensis and B. cyannea (B) Ptyas mucosa, Gonyosoma oxycephalum and Coelognathus flavolineatus (C) Naja sagittifera, Ophiophagus hannah, Bungarus andamanensis; (D) Laticauda laticaudata, Laticauda colubrina and Trimeresurus andersoni