Kopstein's Bronzeback Tree Snake

Fascinating facts about the Kopstein's Bronzeback Tree Snake

• A red flash on the front of its body sets this bronzeback apart from every other Dendrelaphis; it is the only species in its genus with red coloration on the anterior part of the body.
• The ventral scales number 167–181 and the subcaudal scales number 140–154.
• It is found in forest from sea level to 624 m (2,047 ft) and has also been found in artificial habitats such as village gardens.
• It preys predominantly upon lizards and, to a lesser extent, upon frogs.

At a glance

About the Kopstein's Bronzeback Tree Snake

Kopstein's bronzeback tree snake, Dendrelaphis kopsteini, stands out among its congeners with a flash of red on the front of its sleek body, a hue absent in any other Dendrelaphis. Its scales are arranged in fifteen neat rows along the mid-body, and a count of 167–181 ventral scales leads to a tail tipped with 140–154 subcaudal scales, giving the snake a graceful, elongated silhouette that darts through the canopy. Found from sea level up to 624 m (2,047 ft) across Brunei, Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, it favors forested habitats but is equally at home in the cultivated patches of village gardens, where its arboreal, diurnal habits allow it to bask in dappled light while scanning for prey. Its diet is dominated by agile lizards, supplemented occasionally by frogs. D. kopsteini is oviparous.

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