Paradise Flying Snake

Description:

Chrysopelea paradisi variabilis MERTENS,1968 belongs to the Family Colubridae; Subfamily; Ahaetullinae.

Habitat:

I was in my back garden and saw this snake flying down to the ground from a Kalamansi (Citrus microcarpa). I rushed into the house and grabbed my camera to try and get some pictures. After some searching in the undergrowth, I spotted it, but it was obviously alarmed by my approach and took off at some speed into deeper cover. I only managed one usable picture before it completely disappeared.

Notes:

There is a beautiful picture of this species in the SYNOPSIS OF THE SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINES, Leviton et al. which can be downloaded as a PDF. Some scientific information can be found in https://www.it is.gov>SingleRpt>Chrysopelea_paradisi_variabilis