第 0615 號，共 1 402 號

Golden tree snake

Chrysopelea ornata

名字的由來： The species name ornata is Latin for "decorated" or "ornamented", a reference to its ornate colouring.1

無害對人無害。不用擔心。

後毒牙蛇

咬吃：肉

對人的危險: 輕微跟蜜蜂螫差不多或更輕微。對人基本上無害。

The golden tree snake is a slim, green snake with gold and black markings that lives in trees across South and Southeast Asia. It is famous for its ability to glide from tree to tree, which it does by launching itself into the air and steering with its body. It is mildly venomous, but it is not considered dangerous to people.1

分布在

South and Southeast Asia: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, China and Singapore (introduced)1

亞洲

首頁

It lives in trees and has adapted well to human areas. In southern Thailand it may hide in the thatch of bungalow roofs, in coconut palms, under tree roots or in potted plants.1

長度

1,3 m (4,3 ft)1

最高速度

大約 5,6 km/h（3,5 mph）

在陸地上, 粗略估計

牠吃什麼？

It eats small tree-living prey such as lizards, bats, small rodents, bird eggs and insects, and occasionally other snakes. It stalks or chases its prey, grabs it by the neck and crushes it in its strong jaws.1

Golden tree snake 的照片 — Golden tree snake。照片：LA Dawson。 CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons.

怎麼認出牠

Usually green, with black cross-hatching and yellow or gold accents1
Slender body with a flattened head, a blunt nose and large eyes with round pupils1
In Sri Lanka and southern India it is mainly greenish yellow or pale green, often with reddish or orange flower-shaped spots on its back1
In Southeast Asia it lacks the reddish spots and has less prominent black crossbars1
Nervous and fast-moving, it climbs trees and vertical rock faces in graceful curves1

常被誤認為： The paradise flying snake (C. paradisi) is a close relative that also glides. Its gliding is more impressive than that of the golden tree snake, which is still able to move easily from tree to tree.1

毒液力量

咬

咬的時候，毒液會從毒牙或牙齒出來。

牠的毒液有什麼作用？

It is mildly venomous. Its two small fangs are at the back of the upper jaw, so it must chew to get venom into prey. The venom is meant to subdue fast-moving tree-living animals and is not considered dangerous to humans.1

牠對人有多危險？

對人的危險: 輕微跟蜜蜂螫差不多或更輕微。對人基本上無害。

It is not considered dangerous to humans and is not of medical importance. It generally does not hesitate to bite if handled.1

牠害怕時會做什麼？

When disturbed it tries to flee, and it can glide away from predators such as birds or other reptiles.1

如果牠咬人

清洗咬傷處，讓傷者保持冷靜，並且就醫。有些種類（例如非洲樹蛇）可能在幾個小時後才致命。

一定要先打緊急電話（112、000、911）。這是一般急救指引，不是醫療建議。急救基本知識

注意安全

絕對不要碰、抓或捉弄野生動物，就算是很小的動物，就算牠看起來在睡覺或已經死了也一樣。
給牠空間。如果遇到了，保持冷靜，慢慢往後退，讓牠自己離開。
如果被牠咬了：保持冷靜，保持不動，打緊急電話（112、000、911）或趕快去醫院。記住牠的樣子，有照片會很有幫助。

牠不是想來抓你。牠用毒液來捕捉食物或保護自己，而且牠更想躲起來。更多安全知識

在世界上的哪裡？

非洲亞洲歐洲北美洲南美洲澳洲與大洋洲

牠有多大？

牠有多長？

跟 2,5 隻家貓從鼻子接到尾巴一樣長跟 7 根香蕉頭尾相接一樣長可以在 64 秒內跑完 100 公尺（最快的人類需要 9.6 秒）

Golden tree snake 跟「你」比起來有多大？

只是在你的瀏覽器裡做算術。什麼都不會儲存，也不會傳送到任何地方。

牠有多快？

一個正在走路的人 大約 5 km/h (3,1 mph)

Golden tree snake 大約 5,6 km/h (3,5 mph)

騎腳踏車的小朋友 大約 12 km/h (7,5 mph)

值得知道

小知識

It can glide, or parachute, across distances of as much as 100 m from tree to tree.1

To glide, it curves its belly into a U-shape that acts like a parachute, then undulates through the air like it is swimming.1

It balances in the air by twisting its tail from side to side, with the tail held rigidly upwards.1

Its striking looks and gliding have made it a sought-after choice for captivity, though it often struggles in captivity.1

It is sometimes cooked for food.1

破解迷思

迷思： Many locals assume that all snakes are venomous and kill them on sight.

真相： The golden tree snake is only mildly venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans.1

給毒液專家

學名: Chrysopelea ornata
類群: 後毒牙蛇
家人: Colubridae2
排序: Squamata
各大洲: 亞洲
寶寶: It lays eggs. Six to 12 elongated eggs are laid, and hatchlings measure 114–152 mm long.1
牠在野外的狀況: Not known to be endangered1
對人的危險: 1 / 5: 輕微3