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Text and photos by
Nick Baker, unless
otherwise stated

 EcologyAsia 2010
Copyright ©

 
 

 

 
   
 
Bronzeback - unidentified
   

The body is brown with numerous narrow, irregular yellow bands.
   

Consuming a Wallace's Flying Frog Rhacophorus nigropalmatus.
   

Dorsal view showing the dark grey neck region, and the olive brown to brown enlarged vertebral scales.

The snake shown here may well be an undescribed bronzeback of the genus Dendrelaphis. It was photographed in lowland forest at Kaeng Krachan National Park in southern Thailand. Its colour and patterning appear quite distinct from other known Dendrelaphis species.

This moderately slender snake was found on the forest floor consuming a flying frog, probably Wallace's Flying Frog Rhacophorus nigropalmatus.

The upperside of the snake's head is olive brown, and the cheeks pale yellow. The eyes are moderately large.

Its neck and anterior body region are dark grey, with slightly less dark interstitial skin. The greater part of the body and the entire tail are medium to dark brown,  patterned with broken, irregular pale yellow bands every few centimetres.

The vertebral scale row comprises greatly enlarged, smooth, hexagonal scales which are lighter brown than the flanks. Other scale rows are smooth and oblique in shape, in the typical Dendrelaphis style. Close inspection suggests the snake has 15 scale rows.

Nothing is known of the distribution of this apparently undescribed snake.

 

Family : COLUBRIDAE
Species: Dendrelaphis sp.
Maximum Size : Unknown

Photos thanks to Horst Flotow