Colubridae
Elegant Bronzeback
HarmlessDendrelaphis formosus
6 photographs of the Elegant Bronzeback. © Jay Paroline.
The Elegant Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis formosus) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 10 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Elegant Bronzeback
Dendrelaphis formosus, commonly known as either the elegant bronzeback or beautiful bronzeback tree snake, is a snake species in the family Colubridae from Southeast Asia.
Taxonomy
Dendrelaphis formosus 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 and habitat
The beautiful bronzeback tree snake is native to southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia to the islands of Sumatra, Borneo and Java. It inhabits lowland forests up to elevations of 600 m (2,000 ft).
Behavior
The snake is diurnal and fully arboreal, and has oviparous reproduction. It mainly feeds on lizards, but occasionally also frogs.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Elegant Bronzeback
- Is the Elegant Bronzeback venomous?
- No. The Elegant Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis formosus) 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 Elegant Bronzeback poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Elegant Bronzeback is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Elegant Bronzeback dangerous?
- The Elegant Bronzeback is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Elegant Bronzeback live?
- The Elegant Bronzeback has verified records in 10 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Common Tree SnakeDendrelaphis punctulatus
Painted BronzebackDendrelaphis pictus
Common Bronzeback Tree SnakeDendrelaphis tristis
Striped BronzebackDendrelaphis caudolineatus
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 formosus
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.