Dendrelaphis Tristis - Indian Bronzeback Tree Snake

Soumyabrata Roy

Indian Bronzeback Tree Snake Or Common Bronzeback Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis tristis) is a long, slender snake with a pointed head and a bronze-colored line running right down its back. 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. This harmless (not venomous) snake prefers the treetops to life on the ground. It can be camouflaged among the leaves because of its ruddy brown skin. Its diet includes geckos, birds, and occasionally frogs. The snake has oviparous (egg laying) reproduction and lays 6-8 eggs in April in tree hollows and rotting vegetation. An Indian Bronzeback Tree Snake climbed on a tin fence to sunbathe on a cool rainy day in a forest at Tehatta, West Bengal; India on 29/09/2024.