Kingdom Animalia Suborder Serpentes Subfamily Colubrinae Genus Flying tree snakes Order Scaled reptiles | Class Reptilia Family Colubridae Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Similar Flying tree snakes, Banded flying snake, Boulenger's keelback, Scaled reptiles, Ahaetulla pulverulenta | ||
The Sri Lankan flying snake (Chrysopelea taprobanica) is a species of gliding snake distributed in India and Sri Lanka. It can glide, as with all species of its genus Chrysopelea, by stretching the body into a flattened strip using its ribs. The snake is known as "dangara dandaa - දඟරදන්ඩා" in Sinhala, due to its folding postures.
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Description
Medium sized snake. Head depressed. Eyes are large with round pupils. Ventrals with keels laterally. Vertebral scales are not enlarged. Dorsal scales are smooth or feebly keeled. Dorsal side is greenish yellow or pale green. Orange to red spots can be seen between dark cross bands. Head is black dorsally with yellow and black cross bars. Ventral side is pale green with a series of black lateral spots on each side.
Scalation
Apical pits with 15 scales. Ventrals 198-214. Subcaudals are 107-123.
Ecology
The snake inhabits old growth trees, as well as secondary vegetation, cultivation, sometimes entering human dwellings. Diurnal and arboreal species.
Diet
Mainly comprises with lizards, such as geckos and agamids. Bats, rodents, birds and other small snakes also prefer.
Distribution
The Sri Lankan flying snake population in Sri Lanka can be found in dry zone lowlands and parts of the intermediate climatic zones, including Polonnaruwa, Wilpattu National Park, Sigiriya, Kurunegala, Jaffna, Trincomalee, and Monaragala. This species was known to be an endemic species to Sri Lanka until researchers have recorded few specimens from Andhra Pradesh India.
Reproduction
Oviparous
