Flying Snakes

Flying snakes are a unique genus of snakes named after their ability to hover over short distances in the air. They occur across Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Borneo. It is believed that this ability is used as a means to pursue prey, escape from predators or travel. The flying snakes achieve this by flattening their ventrals and performing undulating motions in the air, all the while moving in a sloping horizontal direction. Hence, the term 'flying snake' is really a misnomer as they achieve aerial ability only by leaping from high vertical positions and riding on air pressure, which actually categorise them as gliders.

Still, the sight of a snake from this genus soaring through the air is an impressive sight that is not known to many who live outside the rainforest edges. This genus is arboreal and diurnal, feeding on geckos, frogs and sometimes, small mammals. Catching a glimpse of one of these flying snakes in mid-air is a rare sight unless you live in the forest. There are three species described from Malaysia; the paradise tree snake, golden tree snake and twin-barred tree snake.