Natural history of the common tree snake, Dendrelaphis punctulatus (Serpentes : Colubridae), in the wet–dry tropics of north Queensland

A seven-year field study of the common tree snake, Dendrelaphis punctulatus, in north Queensland's Wet Tropics revealed strong seasonal reproduction tied to the dry-to-wet season transition, with clutch size linked to maternal body size. Unlike previous research relying on museum specimens, this study provided detailed observations of a melanotic population, showing diurnal activity peaking during reproduction and a diet primarily consisting of frogs, lizards, and locusts. Females were significantly larger than males in all measured traits, including mass and head size.

Fearn, S., & Trembath, D. F. (2011). Natural history of the common tree snake, Dendrelaphis punctulatus (Serpentes : Colubridae), in the wet–dry tropics of north Queensland. Australian Journal of Zoology, 58(6), 384–389. https://doi.org/10.1071/zo10059