Chrysopelea taprobanica

Sri Lankan flying snake

At Kandalama.
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Subfamily:	Colubrinae
Genus:	Chrysopelea
Species:	C. taprobanica
Binomial name
*Chrysopelea taprobanica* (Smith, 1943)

The Sri Lankan flying snake (Chrysopelea taprobanica) is a species of gliding snake distributed in India and Sri Lanka. It can glide, as with all species of its genus Chrysopelea, by stretching the body into a flattened strip using its ribs. The snake is known as "dangara dandaa - දඟරදන්ඩා" in Sinhala, due to its folding postures.

Description

Medium sized snake. Head depressed. Eyes are large with round pupils. Ventrals with keels laterally. Vertebral scales are not enlarged. Dorsal scales are smooth or feebly keeled. Dorsal side is greenish yellow or pale green. Orange to red spots can be seen between dark cross bands. Head is black dorsally with yellow and black cross bars. Ventral side is pale green with a series of black lateral spots on each side.

Scalation

Apical pits with 15 scales. Ventrals 198-214. Subcaudals are 107-123.

Ecology

The snake inhabits old growth trees, as well as secondary vegetation, cultivation, sometimes entering human dwellings. Diurnal and arboreal species.

Diet

Mainly comprises with lizards, such as geckos and agamids. Bats, rodents, birds and other small snakes also prefer.

Distribution

The Sri Lankan flying snake population in Sri Lanka can be found in dry zone lowlands and parts of the intermediate climatic zones, including Polonnaruwa, Wilpattu National Park, Sigiriya, Kurunegala, Jaffna, Trincomalee, and Monaragala. This species was known to be an endemic species to Sri Lanka until researchers have recorded few specimens from Andhra Pradesh India.

Reproduction

Oviparous

References

http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Chrysopelea&species=taprobanica