Colubridae
Giri's Bronzeback
HarmlessDendrelaphis girii
6 photographs of the Giri's Bronzeback. © ABHINAV JEEVAN K.
The Giri's Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis girii) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 1 country.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Giri's Bronzeback
Dendrelaphis girii, Giri's bronzeback tree snake or Giri's bronzeback, is a species of diurnal, arboreal, Colubrid snake endemic to the Western Ghats of southwestern India.
Description
A species of Dendrelaphis characterised by the combination of: 1) two loreal scales on each side of the head; 2) 15 dorsal scale rows at midbody; 3) enlarged vertebral scales; 4) 166–173 ventrals; 5) 140–147 subcaudals; 6) 8–9 supralabials, 2 supralabials border the eye; 7) 6–8 temporal scales; 8) a long sublabial that touches 2-5 infralabials; 9) 1–3 gular rows; 10) a divided anal shield; 11) relative tail-length 0.36–0.37; 12) a black postocular stripe that covers less than a quarter of the temporal region and that barely extends onto the neck; 13) an absent or rudimentarily present pale ventrolateral line.
Etymology
Named after Varad Giri, the curator of the herpetological collection of the Bombay Natural History Society. He contributed enormously to the knowledge of the Indian reptiles by his own research and by making the BNHS collection easily available for all kind of researchers.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Giri's Bronzeback
- Is the Giri's Bronzeback venomous?
- No. The Giri's Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis girii) 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 Giri's Bronzeback poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Giri's Bronzeback is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Giri's Bronzeback dangerous?
- The Giri's Bronzeback is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Giri's Bronzeback live?
- The Giri's Bronzeback has verified records in 1 country, including India. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Giri's Bronzeback?
- Named after Varad Giri, the curator of the herpetological collection of the Bombay Natural History Society. He contributed enormously to the knowledge of the Indian reptiles by his own research and by making the BNHS collection easily available for all kind of researchers.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Common Tree SnakeDendrelaphis punctulatus
Painted BronzebackDendrelaphis pictus
Common Bronzeback Tree SnakeDendrelaphis tristis
Striped BronzebackDendrelaphis caudolineatus
Elegant BronzebackDendrelaphis formosus
Kopstein's BronzebackDendrelaphis kopsteini
Vietnamese BronzebackDendrelaphis ngansonensis
Northern Tree SnakeDendrelaphis calligaster
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 girii
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.