May 2008

Arboreality in the Northern Brownsnake (S. dekayi) is a rare sight. Jason Gibson fills us in on the details, " On 7 May 2005 we observed a female S. dekayi (246 mm TL) lying on a honeysuckle vine (Lonicera japonica) about 44 cm above ground in full sun 3.1 km SW of Danville Regional Airport in the City of Danville, Virginia (39°33’578’’N, 79°21’390’’W, elevation 111 m).  This vine was located beside a mountain bike trail cut through a mature oak-hickory forest. The trail allowed enough light through the canopy to sustain an herbaceous layer composed of Rubus sp. (blackberry), Lonicera japonica (honeysuckle), Vitis sp. (grapevine), Rhus radicans (poison ivy), and Galium aparine (cleavers). The snake appeared to be basking, an arboreal behavior consistent with that described by Brown (1992). While taking photographs, the snake, it tongue flicked many times but exhibited no other behaviors. When placed on the ground, it quickly entered the leaf litter. Reports and descriptions of arboreality in terrestrial snakes are useful because they provide insights into little known behaviors of these secretive animals.