Context
Recently, the Common Bronzeback Tree Snake was spotted in the Belrayan range of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district, drawing attention to the reserve’s diverse reptile fauna.
About Common Bronzeback Tree Snake
- The Common Bronzeback (Dendrelaphis tristis) is a non-venomous arboreal snake found across South and Southeast Asia.
- They are also referred to as the Indian Bronzeback Tree Snake or Daudin’s Bronzeback.
- The species occurs in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar and Bhutan.
- It inhabits dry forests, wet montane forests, Himalayan foothills, gardens and parks.
- The snake spends most of its time on trees and rarely descends to the ground.
- It has a slender body measuring about 90–120 cm, with a long thin tail.
- Its body appears greyish-brown with a bronze stripe along the back, while the underside remains pale yellow or yellowish-white.
- The species has a flat elongated head, large rounded eyes and a distinct whitish spot on the top of the head.
- The IUCN Red List classifies the Common Bronzeback as a species of Least Concern.
