Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
(C)
(D)
Plate 4.11 (A-D)
(
Continued
)
common names “flying snake” (as noted, “gliding snake” would
be more accurate). Bites from members of this genus are usually insignificant. However, one
well-documented alleged bite by
C. pelias
(twin-barred tree snake, see Plate 4.11A and B;
Table
4.1
) caused significant local edema and moderate pain.
(A and B) Twin-barred tree or flying snake (
Chrysopelea pelias
), Malaysia.
The pictured
specimen was killed shortly after presumably inflicting the bite described above. Although the
bite was unobserved, the snake was found at the site immediately after the incident.
(C) Paradise tree or flying snake (
Chrysopelea paradisii paradisii
), Krakatau, Rakata
Island, Indonesia.
Anecdotally reported bites are medically insignificant, and usually only
included minor punctures, brief bleeding, and mild erythema.
(D) Ornate tree or flying snake (
Chrysopelea ornata ornata
), Sri Lanka.
This
Chrysopelea
spp. is relatively common in European, Asian, and North American private collections. As
noted for
C. paradisii
, anecdotally reported bites are medically insignificant.
Plate 4.11A and B, photos copyright to Ahmed Khalil Ismail; Plate 4.11C and D, photos
copyright to Mark O'Shea.
(A)
(B)
Plate 4.12
(A and B) Mussurana (
Clelia occipitoleutea
), Brazil.
The common name
is frequently applied to several
Clelia
spp. as well as other genera (occasionally used for
Boiruna
spp.). These dipsadids are included in the tribe, Pseudoboinii. Most
Clelia
spp. are
preferentially ophiophagous, but will accept rodents as well as lizards. The few documented
bites have caused only mild-to-moderate local effects.
Photos copyright to David A. Warrell.
