Asian vine snake

Slithering amongst the trees is the Asian vine snake, aka Oriental whip snake, Boie’s whip snake, or Gunther’s whip snake. These venomous serpents dwell in Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Laos, Malaysia, Brunei, Burma, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand. Vine snakes can be found hanging out in moist and dry forests; shrublands, plantations, pasturelands, rural gardens, and even urban areas. Even though these snakes are subjected to habitat loss, at the hands of agriculture and the logging industry; hunting; and trapping, these critters are still listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.

First the Stats… Scientific name: Ahaetulla prasina Weight: Up to 2.8 lbs. Length: Up to 5 feet Lifespan: Up to 12 years

Now on to the Facts! 1.) As their name suggests, these snakes are arboreal (spend their lives in trees).

2.) Asian vine snakes are diurnal (active during the day).

3.) Like other snakes, they are solitary and only come together to mate.

4.) These snakes prey on various reptiles and amphibians.

5.) Birds of prey are their primary predator . Plus they are often captured for the exotic pet trade.

But wait, there’s more on the Asian vine snake! 6.) The Asian vine snake is venomous, however, their venom is not medically significant to larger animals or humans.

7.) These snakes are ovoviviparous (female births live young).

Did you know…? The effects of their venom are localized pain, swelling, and redness. These snakes are rear-fanged. Meaning they have to bite and chew the venom into their prey.

8.) Females birth up to 10 young snakelets each season.

9.) Snakelets are born precocial (totally self-sufficient) and venomous. The young typically measure in at about 9.5 inches long.

10.) Although venomous, these vine snakes are not known to be terribly aggressive. But, if threatened, they will take up an S shape, puff up their neck to look more threatening, and will hiss. If that doesn’t work, they will bite.

Now a Short Asian Vine Snake Video!

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Predation is the ecological process by which an animal (or an organism) kills and feeds on another. The animal that kills to feed is called a predator. The 1 that is killed to be eaten is called prey.

Some examples or predators are: raptors , wolves , snakes , cats , and sharks .'); toolTips('.classtoolTips21','

An animal that is hatched or born in an advanced state and able to feed itself almost immediately is called precocial. Some examples are snakes , lizards , ducks , horses , and deer .'); toolTips('.classtoolTips28','

Stemming from the Latin word arboreus, which means "pertaining to trees", arboreal creatures spend all or most of their lives in or around trees and tall shrubs. They seldom venture to the ground, if at all.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips28','

Stemming from the Latin word arboreus, which means "pertaining to trees", arboreal creatures spend all or most of their lives in or around trees and tall shrubs. They seldom venture to the ground, if at all.'); toolTips('.classtoolTips31','

An animal that falls into this category is active during the day. Animals that fit this description typically use sight for hunting prey. Others, like turtles , are active during the day as they need the sun\'s rays to aid in the production of vitamin D, which is needed to help process calcium and prevent metabolic bone disease. Hummingbirds rely on the sun as most of the nectar they gather comes from flowers that are open during the day. Cows , dogs , elephants , butterflies , and squirrels , for example, are diurnal.');

Asian vine snake

The Asian Vine Snake