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This is an endemic species which is found in the lowlands and mid hills of the country. It is an uncommon, non-poisonous slender snake that usually lives on trees. It feeds on frogs, Geckos, Skinks and lizards. There are five species of this genus found in the country and they are commonly referred to as Bronze-backs. Two of these species, the above, and the recently described Schokari’s Bronze-back Dendrelaphis schokari are endemic.  The three non-endemic species are Gunther’s Bronze-back Dendrelaphis caudolineolatus, Oliver’s Bronze-back Dendrelaphis oliveri which has never been observed in the wild after it was described in 1944, and the Common Bronze-back Dendrelaphis tristis.

The conservation status of this species is regarded as Near Threatened (National Red List 2012).

Boulenger’s Bronze-back is a species protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.

I have come across this species in Kandy, Kitugala, Koslanda, Sinharaja and Polonnaruwa.

In Wilpattu I observed this species for the first time in on the 23rd May 2014 at Kumbuk Wila. The following is an account from my filed notes.

Around 1.33pm while having lunch inside the Kumbuk Wila summer hut a slender snake fell on to the floor followed by a tree frog. Despite falling about 15 feet the snake instantly lunged forward and caught the frog by its head. We grabbed our cameras to capture the action.

I identified the snake as a Boulenger’s Bronze-back Dendrelaphis bifrenalis andthe unfortunate frog was a Spotted Tree Frog  Polypedates maculatus.

Even though these fast moving snakes are known slither away from sight at great speed upon being detected, this individual was totally focused in overpowering its freshly caught prey and was not deterred by the crowd that had gathered only a few feet around.  The desperate calls and the valiant efforts of the frog to extricate himself from the snake’s jaws proved fruitless and the small hunter triumphed.  After swallowing its prey the snake moved out of the summer hut and disappeared in to the jungle.