Tree Snakes

several related genera of snakes of the subfamily Colubrinae. Length, 1 to 1.5 m. Ventral scales on the sides of the body form a clearly defined rib. Tree snakes are predominantly yellow, green, and black with a metallic sheen. They are found in tropical and southern Africa, South America, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and northern Australia. Active during the day, tree snakes are incredibly quick and agile as they crawl through trees and shrubbery; many can jump distances of more than 1 m from branch to branch. Tree snakes feed on frogs, five species in Southeast Asia and Indonesia best known are the bronze tree snake of the genus Ahaetulla, which includes ten species in Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and northern Australia, and the flying snake of the genus Chrysopelea, which comprises five species in South-east Asia and Indonesia.