Dendrelaphis calligaster

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title: "Dendrelaphis calligaster" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["dendrelaphis", "snakes-of-australia", "snakes-of-new-guinea", "reptiles-of-queensland", "reptiles-of-papua-new-guinea", "reptiles-of-western-new-guinea", "least-concern-biota-of-oceania", "reptiles-described-in-1867", "taxa-named-by-albert-günther"] description: "Species of snake" topic_path: "geography/australia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendrelaphis_calligaster" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Species of snake ::

| status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = | image = Dendrelaphis calligastra (Northern Tree Snake).jpg | taxon = Dendrelaphis calligaster | authority = (Günther, 1867) | synonyms = {{species list | Dendrophis calligastra | Günther, 1867 | Dendrophis salomonis | Günther, 1872 | Dendrophis aruensis | Doria, 1874 | Dendrophis katowensis | Macleay, 1877 | Dendrophis darnleyensis | Macleay, 1877 | Dendrelaphis papuensis | Boulenger, 1895 | Dendrelaphis schlenckeri | Ogilby, 1898 | Dendrophis calligastra keiensis | Mertens, 1926 | Dendrophis calligastra distinguendus | Meise & Hennig, 1932 }} | synonyms_ref =

Dendrelaphis calligaster, also called green tree snake, northern green tree-snake, and northern tree snake, is a colubrid snake native to New Guinea, Australia,

This common snake is harmless, and readily recognised due to its cream to yellow belly and pronounced wide dark facial stripe passing across the eye.

Etymology

The specific name calligaster means "beautiful-bellied".

Distribution and habitat

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Northern_Tree_Snake_D._calligastra.jpg" caption="Photo showing distinctive black stripe through eye"] ::

In Australia, Dendrelaphis calligaster are found on the eastern side of the Cape York Peninsula (Queensland) as far south as Mackay. On the western side, their range is poorly mapped. They also occur on many of the Torres Strait Islands. On the New Guinea mainland, they are widespread at elevations below 1150 m in both Indonesian and Papua New Guinean parts of the island. They occur also on many nearby islands. The Reptile Database also lists this species from the Solomons.

Dendrelaphis calligaster is primarily arboreal but can also forage on the ground. It can be found in rainforest, mangroves, dense secondary regrowth, and tropical woodlands. It is abundant throughout its range.

Behaviour and ecology

They eat frogs and reptiles.

Breeding

The northern tree snake lays five to seven eggs in clutches, with one female recorded as laying 11 eggs in January.

References

References

1. (2018). "''Dendrelaphis calligaster''".
2. Queensland Museum. (2000). "Wildlife of Tropical North Queensland: Cooktown to Mackay".
3. Ehmann, H.. (1992). "Encyclopedia of Australian Animals: Reptiles". The Australian Museum, Angus & Robertson.
4. (2008). "Northern tree snake". Reptiles Down Under – Australian Reptile Studies.
5. {{NRDB species

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