Dendrelaphis bifrenalis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	REPTILIA	SQUAMATA	COLUBRIDAE

Scientific Name:

Dendrelaphis bifrenalis

Species Authority:

(Boulenger, 1890)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Boulenger's Bronzeback, Boulenger's Bronze-back, Travancore Bronze-brown Snake

Synonym/s:

Ahaetulla bifrenalis (Boulenger, 1890)

Dendrophis bifrenalis Boulenger, 1890

Dendrophis boiga subspecies bifrenalis (Boulenger, 1890)

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:	2010
Assessor/s:	de Silva, A.
Reviewer/s:	Böhm, M., Collen, B. & Ram, M. (Sampled Red List Index Coordinating Team)
Contributor/s:	Zug, G., De Silva, R., Milligan, H.T., Wearn, O.R., Wren, S., Zamin, T., Sears, J., Wilson, P., Lewis, S., Lintott, P. & Powney, G.
Justification: Dendrelaphis bifrenalis has been assessed as Least Concern owing to its large distribution. Despite habitat loss occurring with its range, this does not appear to be causing a fast enough rate of population decline to warrant a threatened category listing. Further research and monitoring of D. bifrenalis should be undertaken, as it is possible that localized threats will become more widespread in the future, causing larger population declines in this species.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs throughout Sri Lanka and southern India (Sharma 2003, de Silva 1990) including the Western Ghats (Bawa et al. 2007). This species is found up to 910 m above sea level.
Countries:	Native: India; Sri Lanka
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This species is reported to be rare on the Indian mainland, however, it may be more common in Sri Lanka (Sharma 2003, de Silva 1990).
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This diurnal and arboreal species can be found in trees, shrubs and bushes in lowland areas (de Silva 1990). It is often encountered on low vegetation, however, may also descend to the ground in search of food. When moving on the ground, it has a peculiar habit of keeping its head and 1/8 of the forebody erect. Dendrelaphis is one of the quickest snakes to escape and hide.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	It is likely that this species has experienced high levels of habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural expansion and logging within its range (Chattopadhyay 1985). However, due to the large distribution of this species, it is likely that this threat is not occurring throughout its range.

Major Threat(s):

It is likely that this species has experienced high levels of habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural expansion and logging within its range (Chattopadhyay 1985). However, due to the large distribution of this species, it is likely that this threat is not occurring throughout its range.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are no known species-specific conservation measures in place for this species. Further research of the population, habitat status and threats to this species should be carried out, and population monitoring is recommended.

Conservation Actions:

There are no known species-specific conservation measures in place for this species. Further research of the population, habitat status and threats to this species should be carried out, and population monitoring is recommended.

Citation:	de Silva, A. 2010. Dendrelaphis bifrenalis. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 June 2013.
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