First Authenticated Case of Sri Lankan Flying Snake (Chrysopelea taprobanica) Bite

Abstract

Flying snakes (Genus Chrysopelea) are a group of ophisthoglyphous colubrids in South and South East Asia known for gliding in the air. Of the five species of flying snakes, Sri Lankan flying snake, Chrysopelea taprobanica, is endemic to Sri Lanka. Authenticated bites and the venom characteristics of this uncommon snake remain unknown. We report the first authenticated case of C taprobanica bite, in which a 45-year-old woman had signs of mild local envenoming after the bite, with no evidence of systemic envenoming.

Karyomorphological delineation, and the NOR loci on the sex chromosome in three species of Chrysopeleinid (Chrysopeleinae: Colubridae) from Thailand

“…Three species of the flying snake genus Chrysopelea occur in Thailand namely, Chrysopelea ornata (Shaw, 1802), C. paradisi Boie, 1827, and C. pelias (Linnaeus, 1758 from total of five species (i.e., C. rhodopleuron Boie, 1827, andC. taprobanica Smith, 1943) (Silva 2013). Features of this group include a long and slender body with an elongated hand, neck distinct, snout much depressed, broadly truncated, large eyes with round pupils, and 13-17 smooth to weakly-keeled mid-body dorsal scale rows (Figueroa et al 2016).…”