About Dendrelaphis calligaster (Günther, 1867)
Dendrelaphis calligaster, also commonly known as the green tree snake, northern green tree-snake, and northern tree snake, is a non-venomous colubrid snake species native to New Guinea, Australia, and the Solomon Islands. This species is slender with large eyes, is active during the day, and can reach a maximum length of 1.2 meters. Its upper body is typically greenish, brown, or greyish, while its belly is cream or yellow. This common, harmless snake is easily identifiable by its cream to yellow belly and a distinct, wide dark facial stripe that runs across the eye. In Australia, Dendrelaphis calligaster occurs along the eastern side of Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, reaching as far south as Mackay. Its range on the western side of Cape York Peninsula is not well mapped. The species is also found on many of the Torres Strait Islands. On the mainland of New Guinea, it is widespread across both the Indonesian and Papua New Guinean portions of the island at elevations below 1,150 meters (3,770 feet), and also occurs on many nearby islands. The Reptile Database additionally records this species from the Solomon Islands. Dendrelaphis calligaster is primarily arboreal, but will also forage on the ground. It inhabits rainforest, mangroves, dense secondary regrowth, and tropical woodlands, and is abundant across its entire range. The diet of Dendrelaphis calligaster consists of frogs and reptiles.
