Brown-speckled whipsnake or brown vine snake (Ahaetulla pulverulenta) is a species of tree snake endemic to Sri Lanka.[3] Populations in the Western Ghats of India are now considered a separate species, Ahaetulla sahyadrensis.[4] It is known as හෙනකදයා (henakadaya) in Sinhala; this name provided the name anaconda.[5][6][7]
Snout pointed, terminating in a dermal appendage which is longer than the eye, formed below by the rostral, and covered above with numerous small scales or warts; the length of the snout, without the dermal appendage, more than twice the diameter of the eye. Nasals in contact behind the rostral appendage, or narrowly separated; no loreal; internasals and prefrontals in contact with the labials; frontal as long as its distance from the nasals, as long as the parietals or a little longer; two preoculars, with one subocular below, the upper preocular in contact with the frontal; two postoculars; temporals 2+3 or 2+2; upper labials 8, fifth entering the eye; 4 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are shorter than the posterior. Scales in 15 rows, ventrals 182–194; anal divided; subcaudals 154–173. Greyish, powdered with brown, with blackish transverse spots above; a dark brown rhomboidal spot on the upper surface of the head, and a brown band on each side, passing through the eye. [8] Total length 5 feet 10 inches; tail 2 feet 4 inches.
Head profile from top
Head view and eye profile
Brown-speckled whipsnake or brown vine snake (Ahaetulla pulverulenta) is a species of tree snake endemic to Sri Lanka. Populations in the Western Ghats of India are now considered a separate species, Ahaetulla sahyadrensis. It is known as හෙනකදයා (henakadaya) in Sinhala; this name provided the name anaconda.
brown vine snake
