Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Ahaetulla
Species: A. prasina
Identification
The Oriental Whip Snake is superbly camouflaged when set amongst bright green foliage. Its profile is slim and elegant, and adult coloration may vary from light brown to dull yellow-green and often a startling fluorescent green. There is commonly a thin pale line along the sides of the body. It is most commonly encountered whilst sunning itself on secondary growth along the forest edge. It can be distinguished from the similar, and closely related, forest-dwelling Big-eyed Green Whip Snake on the basis of its smaller eye and other features.
Habitat
A mildly venomous, yet docile species, the Oriental Whip Snake is commonly found in forested and rural areas. It feeds on vertebrates, including small nesting birds, lizards and frogs. The young are born alive, and are brownish in color. The species ranges from India to China and throughout Southeast Asia as far east as Sulawesi and the Philippines.
Location
Dambulla
Sri Lanka
January 2010