Don’t Look Up!
Today’s special animal friend is the ornate flying snake (yes, flying snake), Chrysopelea ornata. Native to South Asia and Southeast Asia, the ornate flying snake is the largest of the five species of flying snakes in the genus Chrysopelea. They can grow over four feet long and have a slender body. Their base color is green, but many scales are edged with black or spotted with red, giving them a variety of attractive patterns. Unlike a viper, this colubrid snake has small fangs set far back in its jaw. Their mild venom sedates their prey so that it can be killed by constriction.
Flying snakes can climb directly up trees using sharply keeled scales on their underside. High in the canopy, they hunt small animals such as lizards, bats, rodents, and insects. To move from one tree to another, it glides through the air, sometimes “flying” over 100 yards. The snake extents its body from a branch gripped in its tail, and then, with a thrash of the tail, gives itself a vigorous fling into the air.
“The snake contracts its ventral [underside] surface inwards to form a U-shaped concave depression along the entire length of its body, holding the outer edges of the ventral scales rigid. This concave surface acts like a parachute and increases air resistance, allowing the snake to glide forward with the thrust of its launch. The snake undulates through the air, in a swimming-like motion. It holds the tail rigidly upwards, and by twisting the tail from side to side, it attains balance.” (Wikipedia)
It is rare for a flying snake to land on the ground. Like flying squirrels, they typically move from tree to tree. In mountain villages in India and Southeast Asia, they are sometimes found on the roofs of houses, attracted by the lizard and rodent populations.
Flying snakes are oviparous. A female lays up to 12 eggs in a tree or bamboo hollow, a termite mound, or a rodent burrow. The hatchlings are energetic, fast, and ready to hunt.
The paradise flying snake, Chrysopelea paradisi, is native to Southeast Asia. They are the smallest species of flying snake and can “fly” the furthest. They are fully arboreal, highly adapted to pursue fast, agile prey animals through the canopy.
All the Chrysopelea species are rated Least Concern. Habitat loss is the greatest threat, as with all species whose habitat is large trees. C. ornata and C. paradisi are collected for the pet trade and bred in captivity. As readers know, I strongly disapprove of this. It is impossible for a home herper to provide a habitat with tall trees and room to glide 50 or 100 yards.
Don’t try this! Get a goldfish!
Good morning everyone. With the windows open all night, the temperature in the house dropped to 73. Unimpressive.
I have an appointment with my dietician this morning. Then I'll drive around in my new red hot rod to fun places like Walmart. D has gone Uptown to help her sister for a couple of days, and the bros have school.
Well that was enlightening and interesting! Thank you. I first wanted to like Ms. Nightshade, but what a disappointment when she started talking about keeping these creatures in captivity.