Dendrelaphis grandoculis, commonly called as the large-eyed bronzeback or southern bronzeback, is a species of Colubrid snake endemic to the Western Ghats of southwestern India.
Eye extremely large, as long as its distance from the rostral. Rostral much broader than long, visible from above, its upper border nearly straight ; suture between the internasals as long as that between the pra^frontals or a little longer ; frontal as long as its distance from the end of the snout, as long as the parietals ; loreal elongate; one pre- and two postoculars ; temporals 2+2; upper labials 9, fourth, fifth, and sixth entering the eye ; 5 lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields, which are shorter than the posterior. Scales in 15 rows, vertebrals nearly as large as the outer row. Ventrals 174–170; anal divided; subcaudals 117. Olive-brown above, with irregular small black blotches ; eye bordered with whitish ; lower parts pale olive. Total length 4 feet ; tail 13 1/2 inches. (after Boulenger)
Greek, grand meaning large and oculis of the eye; hence the common name large-eyed bronzeback.
This species is endemic to Western Ghats and is known from Agasthyamalai, Travancore hills, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Anaimalai, Waynad, Coorg and Malnad region of Karnataka, northwards till Castle Rock near Goa.
Rather slow in speed for a bronzeback, it slithers across tree branches foraging for lizards, frogs and small birds to eat. A diurnal and arboreal forest-dwelling snake, partial to rainforests. Rarely seen in plantations and monocultures.
Dendrelaphis grandoculis, commonly called as the large-eyed bronzeback or southern bronzeback, is a species of Colubrid snake endemic to the Western Ghats of southwestern India.
