Painted Bronzeback Snake
Dendrelaphis pictus
15.4559, 119.92
Field Notes
Description:
Dendrelaphis pictus (Gmelin, 1789) The snake's colouration is olive or brown above with a yellow lateral stripe, bordered below by a dark line between the outer scales and the ventrals. A black stripe on each side of the head passes through the eye, widens or breaks up into spots, separated by bluish-green bands on the nape. The upper lip is yellow, and the lower surface yellowish or greenish. Length of head and body approximately 740 mm and the tail 440 mm. Wikipedia.
Habitat:
I spotted this snake, high in the branches of a mango tree at the roadside. It was so high up that I had some difficulty getting a decent picture. It was obviously aware of me and I'm sure it was discomforted by my presence. My wife stood back where she could see its general movements and was directing me "Go to the right...go to the left etc." but by the time I followed her instructions, the snake had anticipated my movements and mostly avoided me successfully.
Notes:
The most lasting impression I have of this beautiful reptile is its length. I know that Wikipedia gives actual measurements, but when I was actually looking at it, the length in relation to its girth was incredible. In one of the pictures, part of the body and most of the tail can be seen going to the right in the background whilst in the foreground the head and part of the body can be seen going to the left. It took me a moment or two to realise that I was looking at only one snake. What a rewarding and privileged moment.
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