What snake is this ??

[gleysen]

On my trip to Laos, I came across this green tree snake.
Can anyone tell me more about it? What kind is it? Is it poisonous ?

Here are some pictures:

http://gleysen.smugmug.com/photos/954015153_AGtFx-X3.jpg

http://gleysen.smugmug.com/photos/954013037_2ZbF7-X3.jpg

http://gleysen.smugmug.com/photos/954026244_nqhxw-X3.jpg

G.

[infernalis]

To me it looks like a Chinese Green Rat Snake.

Scientific name = Gonyosoma frenatum or Elaphe frenata

[marvelfreak]

Hello and welcome! I don't know what kind it is , but man you got some awesome pictures.

[TeaNinja]

its blue tongue looks SWEET! :D

[infernalis]

************************************************** ****

Rein Snake -- (Elaphe frenata) (http://www.ratsnakes.com/Efrenata.html)

************************************************** ****

[***Beth***]

Nice looking snake! That tongue is soo shiney! LOL

[Sapphyr]

Lovely pictures, even more lovely snake! I was thinking the rat snake thing, myself. Rein also looks really similar..

[infernalis]

Chinese Green rats are also called rein snakes ;)

Most likely due to the black marks on it's face, resembles reins like used on horses.

[gleysen]

Thx for all the quick reactions!
It is indeed a Red-tailed Green Ratsnake (Gonyosoma oxycephalum) .. the 3th picture is actually from a video, and in the video the "red"/"brownish" tail is clearly visible.

On wikipedia, they say it seldom descends on the ground, so we were lucky to see it I guess..

Gonyosoma oxycephalum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonyosoma_oxycephalum)

Thx a lot everyone!

Geert

[SkYyaMe1623]

my first reaction was green mamba or jamison mamba, anyone consider this?

[Jay]

Defiantly not poisonous, if anything it would be venomous. In this case it looks like a harmless rat.

[kreaturekeeper]

Omg it's gorgeous

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

my first reaction was green mamba or jamison mamba, anyone consider this?


no... not in the slightest. lol

[leper65]

Red-tailed Green Ratsnake (Gonyosoma oxycephalum)

There was a nice article about these guys in the July issue Reptiles Magazine....

http://www.shopanimalnetwork.com/images/backissues/REP1107_160.jpg

Reptiles - volume 19 - Number 7 - July 2011 (http://www.shopanimalnetwork.com/productbackissue.aspx?pid=1539&cid=94)

[Aaron_S]

Reminds me of a red tail green rat snake. Wayne may have it as well.

Someone beat me to it.

[NennaMeerkat]

I thought mamba too until that mouth was open. Don't mambas have black mouths normally?

Now I am just curious since we all know this is a green rat.

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

my first reaction was green mamba or jamison mamba, anyone consider this?


jameson's mamba :):)

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

I thought mamba too until that mouth was open. Don't mambas have black mouths normally?

Now I am just curious since we all know this is a green rat.


The key word... "On my trip to Laos"

[NennaMeerkat]

The key word... "On my trip to Laos"

True but that still doesn't answer my question about mambas in general...aren't their mouths black? Like all species of mambas?

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

Dendroaspis polylepis exhibit a black mouth, its some of where there names originate from as the majority of these snakes have off tone slate gray color scales.

Dendroaspis angusticeps do not.. There mouth (color) looks similar to other snakes.

Dendroaspis viridis have recorded several with gray/darker mouths.

Dendroaspis jamesoni im not sure about.

[NennaMeerkat]

Thanks muchly :) That solves my curiosity.

[marionsclan]

Also, don't venomous (noticed me not saying poisonous) snakes have vertical eye slits as opposed to horizontal like the snake in question?

[NennaMeerkat]

Also, don't venomous (noticed me not saying poisonous) snakes have vertical eye slits as opposed to horizontal like the snake in question?

Not all venomous snakes follow that rule. I know all the snakes in the US follow this rule except for one venomous snake...but I can't think of the species. King Cobras have rounded eyes and I am pretty sure Mambas do as well.

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

@marionsclan: No to give you an example look at the Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) One of my favorite snakes.

@ The Scorpion Whisperer =]=]: The Coral Snake the only Elapidae in North America.

[marionsclan]

[quote=KD35WIN.AS.ONE;622763]@marionsclan: No to give you an example look at the Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) One of my favorite snakes.

I looked it up and they are quite something. But check out this link and scroll all the way to the bottom where the Keeled Ratsnake is. Impressive how big they get and that they would go straight for your face.

"colubrid" venom research (http://www.kingsnake.com/toxinology/colubrid.html)

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

"colubrid" venom research (http://www.kingsnake.com/toxinology/colubrid.html)

Thank you for showing me this :)

Awesome snake, i want one like that just smaller a really aggressive rat snake haha. w/o the venom.

[marionsclan]

Thank you for showing me this :)

Awesome snake, i want one like that just smaller a really aggressive rat snake haha. w/o the venom.

Yeah, it seems to have the attitude of a mamba and the reach and exactness of a King Cobra. But 3 meters is like 9 feet and that is huge for an aggressive snake like that.