Dendrelaphis vogeli

This snake is found in Thailand but not in Bangkok

English name: Vogel’s Bronzeback
Scientific name: Dendrelaphis vogeli
Thai name:

Description: To 113cm long. Bronze with indistinct dark bands on the front part of the body. Bronze color is just as dark on the lowest row of dorsal scales as it is on the rest of the body. Some blue coloration on parts of the scales in the front part of body becomes more conspicuous when snake is threatened and expands its body/neck. Black eyestripe extends onto the neck but no further. Belly grayish-yellow in front moving to brownish-yellow in back.

Relevant scale counts: 15 rows of midbody scales with enlarged vertebral scales. Loreal single. 193-197 ventrals and 130-135 subcaudals.

Similar Species: Blue Bronzeback has more distinct black bars on front part of body, more visible blue color on neck, distinctly lighter first row of dorsal scales, and 135-157 subcaudals.
Painted Bronzeback has a distinct light dorsolateral stripe.

Range: Extreme southern China and extreme northern Thailand, likely found in Myanmar/Laos between as well.

Habitat: The habitat of this species is not yet known.

Contribution to the ecosystem: Nothing is yet know about the diet of this species, though it likely feeds on frogs and lizards as other related species do. Would be eaten by birds of prey and larger snakes.

Danger to humans: This species is not dangerous to humans.

Conservation status and threats: The conservation status of this species has not been studied.

Interesting facts: A 2020 study of Bronzebacks in China used morphological, genetic, and range information to determine that the Blue Bronzeback is actually a “species complex”. This means that what appears to us to be a single species is in fact a number of different species that appear very similar from outside appearance. Some specimens from across southern China appear to actually be genetically related to Nganson’s Bronzeback, while certain specimens from Yunnan were found to be genetically distinct and thus named as a separate species, the “Vogel’s Bronzeback” described here. What is known as the “Blue Bronzeback” in Malaysia may in fact be a third species. How this species complex will work out in Thailand remains to be seen.

References:
A new species of the genus Dendrelaphis from Yunnan Province China
Thai National Parks: Dendrelaphis vogeli
Rushen Bilgin pers. comm.