Snake FinderField Guide · Worldwide

Colubridae

Maren's Bronzeback

Harmless

Dendrelaphis marenae

Maren's Bronzeback
Dendrelaphis marenae, © Kseniia Marianna Prondzynska
Maren's BronzebackMaren's BronzebackMaren's BronzebackMaren's BronzebackMaren's Bronzeback

6 photographs of the Maren's Bronzeback. © Kseniia Marianna Prondzynska.

The Maren's Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis marenae) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 countries.

Family
Colubridae

About the Maren's Bronzeback

Dendrelaphis marenae, also known commonly as Gaulke's bronze-back tree snake and Maren's bronzeback, is a species of snake in the subfamily Ahaetuliinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to Southeast Asia.

Etymology

The species Dendrelaphis marenae is named after German herpetologist Dr. Maren Gaulke, honoring her scientific contributions to the field of herpetology in the Philippines. She also helped collect some of the initial specimens.

Taxonomy

Dendrelaphis marenae 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 marenae is found in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of Dendrelaphis marenae is forest, at elevations up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).

Behavior

Dendrelaphis marenae is diurnal and fully arboreal.

Diet

Dendrelaphis marenae preys predominantly upon frogs.

Reproduction

Dendrelaphis marenae is oviparous. Clutch size is two to ten eggs.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Maren's Bronzeback

Is the Maren's Bronzeback venomous?
No. The Maren's Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis marenae) 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 Maren's Bronzeback poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Maren's Bronzeback is neither poisonous nor venomous.
Is the Maren's Bronzeback dangerous?
The Maren's Bronzeback is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
Where does the Maren's Bronzeback live?
The Maren's Bronzeback has verified records in 2 countries, including Philippines, Indonesia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
What does the Maren's Bronzeback eat?
Dendrelaphis marenae preys predominantly upon frogs.
Why is it called the Maren's Bronzeback?
The species Dendrelaphis marenae is named after German herpetologist Dr. Maren Gaulke, honoring her scientific contributions to the field of herpetology in the Philippines. She also helped collect some of the initial specimens.

Where it is found

More Colubridae snakes

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 marenae

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.