Appearance
This is an extremely slender snake that reaches up to 1.9 metres in length. Its color may vary from gray to brown with a yellow underside.The body is laterally compressed. The snout is prominent, its length more than two times the diameter of the eye. There is 1 preocular, and there are 2 postoculars. There is 1 anterior temporal, and there are 2 posterior temporals. There is no loreal scale, and there are 8-10 upper labials.
The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 17 rows at midbody.
Ventrals 173-205; subcaudals 150-188, divided . The anal plate is divided in Arizona specimens, but is entire in South American specimens.
Naming
In Arizona it is also called "pike-headed tree snake". In Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, it is known as a "horse whip" or "vine snake".
Behavior
Mostly arboreal and diurnal, this snake is quite often mistaken for a vine. When threatened, it sometimes releases foul smelling secretions from its vent.Reproduction
''Oxybelis aeneus'' is oviparous. Clutch sizes of 3-6 have been published. In Arizona, hatching occurs in September.Food
It feeds mainly on lizards, but also eats frogs and birds.Defense
''O. aeneus'' is a mildly venomous rear-fanged snake, but it is not considered dangerous to humans. However, a bite can cause an itching sensation.References:
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