Paradise Tree Snake (Paradise Flying Snake)
Chrysopelea paradisi (Colubridae) is a diurnal, back-fanged colubrid with weak venom sufficiently powerful to immobilize its small prey, which comprises mainly tree-dwelling lizards.
As with other members of the Chrysopelea genus, C. paradisi has the remarkable ability to glide from tree to tree by flattening the body so that the ventral surface becomes concave, and then projecting itself into the air from a high branch whilst making sinuous snake-like movements.
The body is slender, and the tail long. Typical patterning is an attractive arrangement of dark-edged yellow scales, however some specimens have red patterning along the dorsal surface.
The species ranges from parts of Burma and Southern Thailand through Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore to Indonesia (Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi) and parts of the Philippines.
Photo credit: ©Konrad Mebert [Top] - [Bottom]
Locality: Upper Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
(via typhlonectes)