In Vietnam, there is a snake with a frightening name and an appearance identical to that of venomous snakes, yet in reality, it is a non-venomous and completely harmless species. What kind of snake is it?
Oriental Whip Snake – A Snake with a Frightening Name
The snake mentioned above is the Oriental Whip Snake (scientific name: Gonyosoma oxycephalum), also known as red-tailed green rat snake or green rat snake. This species is endemic to Southeast Asia, found in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
The Oriental Whip Snake has a green body and a red tail, which leads many to mistakenly believe it is a highly venomous snake (Photo: iStock).
In Vietnam, the Oriental Whip Snake is distributed from the North Central region down to the South. This snake typically resides in tall trees and tree hollows, always trying to avoid human contact, making it very difficult to encounter.
The Oriental Whip Snake’s favorite food includes tree-dwelling animals such as birds, bird eggs, lizards, and bats. Additionally, this species can also prey on mice and some rodents.
The Oriental Whip Snake often lives in trees and tries to evade humans (Photo: Animalia).
The Oriental Whip Snake is a large species. Adult females can reach lengths of up to 2.4 meters, while males are slightly smaller. When threatened, this snake can raise its head and expand its neck to intimidate predators.
Defensive posture of the Oriental Whip Snake (Photo: AZAnimals).
The reason the Oriental Whip Snake has a frightening name is that its name combines elements of the green tree snake and the king cobra, both of which possess dangerously lethal venom.
Oriental Whip Snake – A Snake Often Confused with the Highly Venomous Red-tailed Green Snake
Not only does it have a frightening name, but the Oriental Whip Snake also bears a striking resemblance to the red-tailed green snake, a species known for its dangerous venom. This resemblance often leads to the Oriental Whip Snake being “wrongfully accused” when people encounter it, as many mistakenly believe it is a venomous snake.
The Oriental Whip Snake has an indistinct head and body (Photo: Animalia).
While the red-tailed green snake has a triangular head clearly distinct from its neck (Photo: SIFASV).
The Oriental Whip Snake has a green body that transitions into a red or brown stripe along the tip of its tail, which are common characteristics of the red-tailed green snake. However, in reality, the Oriental Whip Snake and the red-tailed green snake are two distinct species and are not related.
To distinguish between the Oriental Whip Snake and the red-tailed green snake, we look at size and head shape. The Oriental Whip Snake is significantly larger than the red-tailed green snake, and its head does not have a distinct separation from its neck. In contrast, the red-tailed green snake is smaller and shorter, with a triangular head that is clearly defined from its neck.
A distinctive feature of the Oriental Whip Snake is its striking blue tongue.
Is the Oriental Whip Snake Venomous and Dangerous to Humans?
Despite its large size and appearance similar to that of a venomous snake, the Oriental Whip Snake is actually a member of the water snake family and does not possess venom. As mentioned earlier, the Oriental Whip Snake is very timid and always seeks to avoid human contact, so encounters between this snake and humans are not frequent, despite its wide distribution.
The Oriental Whip Snake has a unique blue tongue (Photo: AZAnimals).
Because this snake is harmless and has eye-catching colors, the Oriental Whip Snake has become a pet for many snake and reptile enthusiasts. In captivity, the Oriental Whip Snake can feel stressed, which may lead to aggressive behavior and erratic temperament. The Oriental Whip Snake may bite humans in captivity.
The Oriental Whip Snake is chosen as a pet by many (Photo: Getty).
The bite of the Oriental Whip Snake is not dangerous to humans, but it may cause infection since the mouths of snakes in general harbor many bacteria. If bitten by an Oriental Whip Snake, it is important to thoroughly wash and disinfect the wound to prevent infection.
