Thai National Parks

Species of Thailand

Malayan whip snake

Ahaetulla mycterizans

(Carolus Linnaeus, 1758)

In Thai: งูเขียวหัวจิ้งจกมลายู (ngu khiaow hua jingjok malayu)

Ahaetulla mycterizans, the Malayan green whipsnake or Malayan vine snake, is a slender arboreal snake found in Western Peninsular Malaysia, Java and Sumatra of Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and possibly Laos up to elevation of 350 m.

Description and ecology

The Malayan green whipsnake is diurnal and mildly venomous. Occurs in primary and mature secondary forests near streams. The diet, like other whip snakes, consists primarily of frogs and lizards. These slow moving snakes often appear like vines amongst foliage and are hard to detect. The anterior part of the body can expand when threatened exposing the dark scales. It is often confused with the oriental whipsnake (Ahaetulla prasina) but the former does not occur in disturbed areas or parks or gardens, especially in its distributional range of Singapore.

The Malayan whipsnake can be distinguished from the oriental whipsnake by the former having larger eyes and the flanks lacking a thin yellow line. The former is also smaller (up to 1 m snout to vent length) as compared to the oriental whipsnake which can grow up to 2 m.

Very little is known about the ecology and natural history of this species.

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Scientific classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Suborder
Serpentes
Family
Colubridae
Genus
Ahaetulla
Species
Ahaetulla mycterizans

Common names

  • German: Malaiische Peitschennatter
  • English:
    • Malayan whip snake
    • Malayan green whip snake
    • Malayan vine snake
  • Thai: งูเขียวหัวจิ้งจกมลายู (ngu khiaow hua jingjok malayu)

Synonyms

  • Ahaetulla mycterizans, Van Stanley Bartholomew Wallach et al. (2014)
  • Ahaetulla mycterizans, Merel J. Cox et al. (1998)
  • Dryophis mycterizans, Michael Wilmer Forbes Tweedie (1950)
  • Dryophis mycterizans, Malcolm Arthur Smith (1943)
  • Passerita xanthozonia, Malcolm Arthur Smith (1930)
  • Dryophis mycterizans, Frank Wall (1921)
  • Dryophis mycterizans, Frank Wall (1908)
  • Dryophis mycterizans, George Henry Evans (1905)
  • Dryophis xnathozona, George Albert Boulenger (1896)
  • Dryophis xanthozonia, George Albert Boulenger (1896)

Conservation status

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Least Concern (IUCN3.1)

Photos

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Ahaetulla mycterizans - Tha Chana District, Surat Thani
Ahaetulla mycterizans - Khao Phra - Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary
Ahaetulla mycterizans (head) - Khao Phra - Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary
Ahaetulla mycterizans - Khao Phra - Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary
Ahaetulla mycterizans - Khao Sok National Park

Copyright Khao Sok Snakes

Ahaetulla mycterizans - Khao Sok National Park

Range Map

Distribution map of Malayan whip snake, Ahaetulla mycterizans in Thailand
  • Budo - Su-ngai Padi National Park
  • Hat Yai District, Songkhla
  • Huai Yang Waterfall National Park
  • Khao Banthat Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Khao Phra - Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Khao Pu - Khao Ya National Park
  • Khao Sok National Park
  • Khlong Phanom National Park
  • Lam Nam Kra Buri National Park
  • Mueang Chumphon District, Chumphon
  • Mueang Ranong District, Ranong
  • Na Yong District, Trang
  • Ngao Waterfall National Park
  • Ron Phibun District, Nakhon Si Thammarat
  • Sadao District, Songkhla
  • Sirindhorn Peat Swamp Forest
  • Tha Chana District, Surat Thani
  • Thung Khai Botanic Garden
  • Waeng District, Narathiwat
  • Yan Ta Khao District, Trang
  • Yong Waterfall National Park
Range map of Ahaetulla mycterizans in Thailand