Wildlifeof Nepal
Golden Tree Snake
Colubrid Snakes
Photo: (c) Ian Dugdale, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY
Chrysopelea ornata
Basic stats
Diet
Small arboreal prey such as lizards, bats and small rodents; occasionally snakes
Habitat
Diurnal and arboreal
Range
India (north Bengal), Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia to southern China
Clutch size
6–12 eggs
Size
Up to 130cm
The golden tree snake, or ornate flying snake, is a mildly venomous, rear-fanged colubrid found in South and Southeast Asia. It is usually green with black cross-hatching and yellow or gold accents. Its keeled belly scales and a normal, non-enlarged row of scales along the back distinguish it, and the tail is about a quarter of the total length. It reaches up to about 130cm (Wikipedia, general species account).
Like other snakes of its genus, it can glide from tree to tree, a controlled falling rather than true flight, mainly during the pursuit of prey. It is diurnal and arboreal and takes small arboreal prey such as lizards, bats and small rodents, and occasionally snakes. It lays six to twelve elongated eggs. Its range includes Nepal.
Quick answers
- What does the Golden Tree Snake eat?
- Small arboreal prey such as lizards, bats and small rodents; occasionally snakes
- What habitat does the Golden Tree Snake live in?
- Diurnal and arboreal
- Where is the Golden Tree Snake found?
- India (north Bengal), Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia to southern China
- How many eggs does the Golden Tree Snake lay?
- 6–12 eggs
- How big is the Golden Tree Snake?
- Up to 130cm