Oriental whip snake

It is very long and thin, usually 1 to 1.5 m, with a tail that makes up about a third of its length. In Singapore it is usually bright leaf green, with a thin pale yellow line along each side of the belly. The head is long and narrow and ends in a sharp, pointed snout.

Its eyes are yellow, with horizontal pupils shaped like a keyhole lying on its side. A groove runs along each side of the snout in front of the eyes. Together these give it good forward vision for judging distance. Brown, yellowish and grey forms of this species occur in other parts of Asia.

It is native and common. It lives in shrubs, hedges and low trees along forest edges, in parks and gardens, and in leafy housing estates. Because it is so well camouflaged, many people walk past one without noticing it.

It has a long history here. A whip snake collected in Singapore on 28 June 1839 is believed to be the second-oldest surviving specimen of any animal with a backbone from the island. It is still kept in a museum in Paris.

It hunts lizards, frogs and small birds. It waits motionless among leaves, judges the distance, and then strikes. Mild venom from teeth at the back of its jaw helps subdue prey.

It is active by day. It often rests draped over branches and may sway gently, like a vine moving in the breeze. Its tail can grip, which helps it hold on while it stretches across gaps between branches.

When threatened it usually slips away through the branches. If cornered, it may puff up the front of its body to flash black and white or bluish skin between its scales. Sometimes it strikes with its mouth closed, as a bluff.

Unlike most snakes in Singapore, it does not lay eggs. Females give birth to live young, reported as about 7 to 10 at a time. Newborns are around 24 cm long.

It is mildly venomous, but its rear fangs and weak venom are made for small prey. It is not considered dangerous to people and usually tries to escape. It may bite if handled. It sits at GIVE SPACE on the danger scale.