Colubridae
Common Bronzeback Tree Snake
HarmlessDendrelaphis tristis
4 photographs of the Common Bronzeback Tree Snake. (c) Ashrith GS, some rights reserved (CC BY).
The Common Bronzeback Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis tristis) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 9 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Common Bronzeback Tree Snake
Dendrelaphis tristis (Common bronzeback or Daudin's bronzeback) is a species of colubrid tree-snake found in South Asia. It is not venomous, and harmless to humans.
Taxonomy
Dendrelaphis tristis belongs to the genus Dendrelaphis, which contains 48 other described species.
Dendrelaphis is one of five genera belonging to the vine snake subfamily Ahaetuliinae, of which Dendrelaphis is most closely related to Chrysopelea, as shown in the cladogram below:
Distribution
Dendrelaphis tristis is found in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Bhutan, although its presence is uncertain in Myanmar, Bhutan, and Pakistan.
Habitat
It is diurnal and fully arboreal. It lives in various types of forests, from dry deciduous to semi-evergreen, and has even been reported in urban gardens and parks.
Description
Dendrelaphis tristis is a long, slender snake with a pointed head and a bronze-coloured line running right down its back. It is camouflaged among the leaves because of its uniform ruddy brown skin.
Diet
Its diet includes geckos, garden lizards, frogs, and small birds. It is not venomous, and harmless to humans.
Reproduction
The snake has oviparous (egg laying) reproduction, and lays 6-8 eggs in April in tree hollows and rotting vegetation.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Common Bronzeback Tree Snake
- Is the Common Bronzeback Tree Snake venomous?
- No. The Common Bronzeback Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis tristis) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Common Bronzeback Tree Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Common Bronzeback Tree Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Common Bronzeback Tree Snake dangerous?
- The Common Bronzeback Tree Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Common Bronzeback Tree Snake live?
- The Common Bronzeback Tree Snake has verified records in 9 countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Common Bronzeback Tree Snake eat?
- Its diet includes geckos, garden lizards, frogs, and small birds. It is not venomous, and harmless to humans.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Common Tree SnakeDendrelaphis punctulatus
Painted BronzebackDendrelaphis pictus
Striped BronzebackDendrelaphis caudolineatus
Elegant BronzebackDendrelaphis formosus
Kopstein's BronzebackDendrelaphis kopsteini
Vietnamese BronzebackDendrelaphis ngansonensis
Northern Tree SnakeDendrelaphis calligaster
Blue BronzebackDendrelaphis cyanochloris
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Dendrelaphis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Dendrelaphis tristis
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.