Dendrelaphis calligaster

Dendrelaphis calligaster, also called green tree snake and northern tree snake, is a colubrid snake native to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia.[1] It is a slender, large-eyed, non-venomous, diurnal snake, which grows up to 1.2 m in length and is greenish, brown, or greyish above with a cream or yellow belly.[2]

Dendrelaphis calligaster
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Dendrelaphis
Species:
D. calligaster
Binomial name
Dendrelaphis calligaster
(Günther, 1867)

This common snake is harmless, and readily recognised due to its cream to yellow belly and pronounced wide dark facial stripe passing across the eye.[2][3]

Etymology

Dendrelaphis: 'tree Elaphe', after another genus of colubrid snakes. calligaster: 'beautiful-bellied'.[4]

Habitat

Northern tree snakes are found in tropical north Queensland, from Paluma to Cooktown and eastern Cape York Peninsula, as well as southern Papua New Guinea. They live in a wide variety of habitats, including rainforest, urban and farmed regions, and open forest. They often bask in the leaf canopy of small bushes and trees and can escape very quickly through the canopy.

Diet

They eat frogs and reptiles.

Distribution
Photo showing distinctive black stripe through eye

Dendrelaphis calligaster is common in Queensland's northern tropics and eastern Cape York Peninsula.

Breeding

The northern tree snake lays eggs in clutches from five to seven, with one female recorded as laying 11 eggs in January.[3]

References
  1. Tallowin, O.; Allison, A.; O'Shea, M.; Parker, F.; Hoskin, C.; Vanderduys, E.; Amey, A.; Couper, P. & Cogger, H. (2018). "Dendrelaphis calligaster". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T116827083A1445157. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T116827083A1445157.en.
  2. Queensland Museum (2000), p. 247.
  3. Ehmann (1992), p. 376.
  4. "Reptiles Down Under – Australian Reptile Studies".

Further reading
  • Queensland Museum (2000). Wildlife of Tropical North Queensland: Cooktown to Mackay. ISBN 0-7242-9349-3
  • Ehmann (1992). Encyclopedia of Australian Animals: Reptiles. Harald Ehmann. The Australian Museum. Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0-207-17379-6 (Reptiles).
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