Dendrelaphis punctulatus, also known
commonly as the Australian tree snake, the common tree snake, and the green tree snake, is a
species of slender, large-eyed, diurnal,
non-venomous snake in the
familyColubridae. The species is native to many parts of
Australia, especially in the northern and eastern coastal areas, and to
Papua New Guinea.[3][4]
It is readily recognised as it is an agile snake with a very slender body and tail. The
dorsal body colour varies from golden yellow, to bright green, to olive-green, to black, sometimes even blue. It is frequently pale yellow on the throat and belly, but other pale colours have been noted. Blue flecks are present on the flanks. The eyes are large, with typically golden-coloured irises and large round pupils.
It is found in a variety of
habitats ranging from rainforest to woodland to urban areas where it preys on fish, frogs, and other small animals.
It is a non-venomous species[5] and does not constrict its prey, but rather relies on its sharp, angled teeth to 'chew' its prey down the oesophagus.
Description
D. punctulatus may attain a total length of 1.64 m (5.4 ft), which includes a tail 44 cm (17 in) long. It has 24–26 maxillary teeth. The
dorsal scales are arranged in 13 rows at midbody. The
ventrals number 191–220. The
anal plate is divided. The
subcaudals, which are also divided, number 120–144.[6]
The common tree snake lives in a wide variety of
habitats, including: bushland; well vegetated banks of rivers, creeks and streams;
rainforest edges;
eucalypt forests;
heathland and areas with trees, long grass, and lush vegetation – especially near water.[8][9] It can be found at altitudes from sea level to 500 m (1,600 ft).[1]
The peak activity period for D. punctulatus, as determined from callouts by members of the public, in the Darwin region is during the northern dry season (May-July).[10][11]
Behaviour
When D. punctulatus is near water it often looks for long grass, blending in to hide while watching for its prey to come to nearby rocks or banks to bask or play. It will also enter house gardens that have fountains or ponds surrounded by long grass or shrubs. It is active during the day, and rests at night in hollow trees, logs, foliage, or rock crevices. It is often found resting in trees; hence the name "tree snake".[citation needed]
An
oviparous species, the common tree snake lays 5–12 elongated eggs per
clutch.[4]
Defensive behaviour
Although D. punctulatus is essentially harmless to humans, it will defend itself by producing a horrible odour from its
cloaca, and may bite. Sometimes when approached, the snake inflates its body and neck to make itself seem larger, a tactic sometimes used to scare predators.[13] Generally, however, the green tree snake in the wild will make a quick escape when it feels threatened.[citation needed]
Gallery
Common tree snake, a blue variation, Cairns, Queensland
Common tree snake, a blue variation, Cairns, Queensland
^Department of Environment and Science, Queensland (13 June 2023).
"Common tree snake". Environment | Wildlife and ecosystems. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
^Boulenger GA (1894). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II. Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I–XX. (Dendrophis punctulatus, pp. 82–83).
Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp.
ISBN978-0643100350.
Fearn S,
Trembath DF (2010). "Natural history of the common tree snake, Dendrelaphis punctulatus (Serpentes: Colubridae), in the wet–dry tropics of north Queensland". Australian Journal of Zoology58 (6): 384–389.
Gray JE (1827). "Reptilia". Appendix. pp. 424–434. In:King PP (1826). Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia Performed between the Years 1818 and 1822. With an Appendix, Containing Various Subjects Relating to Hydrography and Natural History. Volume II. London: John Murray. viii + 637 pp. + Plates A–C + Errata. (Leptophis punctulatus, new species, pp. 432–433). (in English and Latin).
van Rooijen J,
Vogel G,
Somaweera R (2015). "A revised taxonomy of the Australo-Papuan species of the colubrid genus Dendrelaphis (Serpentes: Colubridae)". Salamandra51 (1): 33–56. (Dendrelaphis punctulatus, pp. 50–51, Figure 11A).
Wilson S,
Swan G (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp.
ISBN978-1921517280.