At lunchtime today I saw a bright green snake, about 2 to 2 1/2 feet long, in the mud at the edge of a klong. The underbody looked to be pale yellow, and it had what appeared from a distance to be short very thin black stripes on either side just behind the head. The last 3 inches or so of the tail tapered off into a yellow orange color. Is this what the Thais call a Ngu Kiao (Green Snake)? Whatever it is, is it poisonous?

At lunchtime today I saw a bright green snake, about 2 to 2 1/2 feet long, in the mud at the edge of a klong. The underbody looked to be pale yellow, and it had what appeared from a distance to be short very thin black stripes on either side just behind the head. The last 3 inches or so of the tail tapered off into a yellow orange color. Is this what the Thais call a Ngu Kiao (Green Snake)? Whatever it is, is it poisonous?

I first thought this was the new Leopard OS (no offence to Apple users), but now I realize that this message should be moved to the right thread.

Thin, green snake with an orange tail? If it were in a tree, I'd say viper. We had one in the tree out front a few months ago. I nearly walked into the darn thing.

and yes, vipers are poisonous.

Thin, green snake with an orange tail? If it were in a tree, I'd say viper. We had one in the tree out front a few months ago. I nearly walked into the darn thing.

and yes, vipers are poisonous.

Possibly, but it was actually much brighter green than that. I have to buy a snake book. Any recommendations of Thai or English identity guides?

Have a look at the photos on this site http://ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes.htm

The vipers at the bottom of the page look similar to your description

I have to buy a snake book. Any recommendations of Thai or English identity guides?

try this..

available all over the kingdom for a couple of hundred baht

i've lost mine, or i'd be able to id the snake for you..

(there's many species of green snakes in Thailand, not all are vipers)

Edited November 1, 200718 yr by Goshawk

You go for it then Goshawk. Me, personally, I see an green snake with an orange tail, I head the other way

vipers normally have a distinct triangular shaped head & vertical pupils. The red tailed ratsnake is also green with reddish tail & a defined line running through large eye. Harmless. Best to keep your distance & encourage it to leave your area, just in case it's the viper.

Hi everyone. Thanks for your contributions, and for the book suggestion. I believe this is the snake I saw:

Same bright green color, and if you look at this picture closely you will see a yellow/orange tail. Also said to like living near water, and this one was right in the mud at the klong edge. Length right too, between 75-100 cm depending on male/female. Pit Viper!!

Edited November 2, 200718 yr by qualtrough

Hi everyone. Thanks for your contributions, and for the book suggestion. I believe this is the snake I saw:

Same bright green color, and if you look at this picture closely you will see a yellow/orange tail. Also said to like living near water, and this one was right in the mud at the klong edge. Length right too, between 75-100 cm depending on male/female. Pit Viper!!

Has been bitten by one once by a Trim. Albrolabris and it brought me to hospital for three days. It is poisonous but not deadly unless you are very sensitive to poisons. (you are close to die when you are bitten by a bee or mosquito etc.)

Pit vipers are very calm and where you saw it, it is probably still around.

You saw this kind of snake in Bangkok?

Hi everyone. Thanks for your contributions, and for the book suggestion. I believe this is the snake I saw:

Same bright green color, and if you look at this picture closely you will see a yellow/orange tail. Also said to like living near water, and this one was right in the mud at the klong edge. Length right too, between 75-100 cm depending on male/female. Pit Viper!!