Side view of the head showing the
relatively large eye.
Faint banding is sometimes visible along the flanks.
An adult 1-metre specimen from
Singapore's mature secondary forests.
Family : COLUBRIDAE
Species : Ahaetulla mycterizans
Maximum Size : 1.1 metres
References : H1, H3 |
The mildly venomous, but
docile, Malayan or Big-eye Green Whip Snake occurs in primary and mature
secondary forest, and is commonly encountered on vegetation near forest
streams. Unlike the closely related
Oriental Whip Snake Ahaetulla prasina it is seldom encountered in
disturbed habitats, or parks and gardens.
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The head is large in
comparison with the slender neck and upper body.
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Its body colour is
generally vivid green, but brown forms also occur. The species can be
distinguished from the Oriental Whip Snake by the larger eyes and the more
slender body. Like many other species, when this snake feels threatened it
may expand its body slightly : at such times vague, pale banding becomes
apparent, which also serves to distinguish the species from the Oriental
Whip Snake.
The Big-eye Green Whip
Snake reaches a maximum size of 1 metre, compared with the Oriental Whip
Snake which can reach 2 metres.
The species ranges from southern Thailand through Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore to Sumatra and
Java.
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