About Chrysopelea paradisi Boie, 1827
Chrysopelea paradisi Boie, 1827, commonly called the paradise tree snake, paradise flying snake, or garden flying snake, is a species of colubrid snake that lives in Southeast Asia. Like all other species in the genus Chrysopelea, this snake is capable of gliding through the air. It achieves this by using its ribs to stretch its body into a flattened strip. It mostly inhabits moist forests, and can glide a horizontal distance of 10 meters (33 feet) or more after launching from the top of a tree. Slow motion photography has revealed that the snake’s body undulates during flight while its head stays relatively stable, which indicates the snake engages in controlled flight. These snakes have rear fangs, produce mild venom, and are able to constrict their prey. Their diet consists mostly of lizards and bats. This species has been recorded in Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Singapore.
