Chrysopelea ornata
Chiang Mai (Jon Hakim / CC BY-SA-NC) 
Chonburi (© Ray Hamilton) 
Yannawa (jdobson / CC BY-NC) 
Krabi (krkzv / CC BY-NC)
English name: Golden Tree Snake (aka “Ornate Flying Snake”)
Scientific name: Chrysopelea ornata
Thai name: งูเขียวพระอินทร์ (Ngu Kieo Phra In)
Description: To 140cm long. A long, somewhat slender snake. Is unusual in that it has keeled ventral scales, which help it to climb trees. Body is green to greenish-yellow with black markings. Head is black and green above the eye and light green below. Underbelly is greenish-yellow to light green.
Relevant scale counts: 17 midbody scale rows of smooth or weakly keeled scales. The ventral scales are distinctly keeled on the outside, aiding the snake in climbing.
Similar Species: Whip snakes (Ahaetulla nasuta and Ahaetulla prasina) have a characteristic pointed snout and more slender bodies.
Green pit vipers (Cryptelytrops albolabris and Cryptelytrops macrops) have a triangular head, pits behind their nostrils, and lack the black coloration.
Range: India east through Bangladesh and Myanmar, throughout southeast Asia south to peninsular Malaysia
Habitat: Naturally a forest species, but has adapted well to agricultural areas, parks, yards and gardens. Is almost totally arboreal.
Place in the ecosystem: This snake eats lizards as well as bats, mice, and smaller snakes. The juveniles are eaten by birds of prey and larger snakes.
Danger to humans: The Golden Tree Snake bites aggressively when captured and is another one of Bangkok’s mildly venomous rear-fanged snakes, but its venom appears to pose no danger to humans. One should always be careful not to confuse it with the more venomous vipers.
Conservation status and threats: No known conservation issues. This species has adapted well to human encroachment and is one of Bangkok’s more common snakes. However, they are often killed by people who mistakenly believe them to be dangerous. I found a dead adult Golden Tree Snake on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia that appeared to have been killed by a human.
Interesting facts: The Golden Tree Snake is an accomplished climber, using its keeled belly scales to climb straight up and straight down trees, even purely vertical ones. It is also reported to be able to climb flat rock cliffs and buildings.
If frightened, Golden Tree Snakes can jump from impressive heights and glide to a safer place, thus the alternate name “Ornate Flying Snake”, though they are not as adept at it as their close relative the Paradise Tree Snake.
References:
Ecology Asia: Golden Tree Snake
Thai National Parks: Golden Tree Snake
A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand
A Field Guide to the Snakes of South Vietnam
A Field Guide to the Reptiles of Southeast Asia
Reptiles and Amphibians of Thailand 
Thanks for the information and the beautiful photos!
paul phuket
found one living in my gate post in a hole
able to identify thanks to your photo
Found this morning a golden tree snake (80 cm long) inside my house in Pluak Daeng. I have no idea on witch way this snake could come inside during night as all doors and windows were closed.
Best regards
Gerhard
Snakes can be incredible in the tiny spaces they can squeeze through. It would be rare for a Golden Tree Snake to come in at night (they are usually diurnal), but I’m not surprised that he found someway in.
found one under my porch today after some really heavy rainfall through the night. Location = Cha-Am
Yep, rains are a great way to get snakes moving.
Thank you for your blog. I identified the golden tree snake sleeping in the key hole of my front door from this photo. My maid thought this was a venomous green snake and was going to kill it so your blog helped conserve one gorgeous baby snake (about 30 cm long).
Wonderful!
I had a Hamster in a cage on the balcony and one day it was inside a Golden Tree Snake, which couldn’t leave the cage anymore :))
In our garden in Pattaya I found at least 3 kind of snakes, which seemed to be
1) GTS
2) Long Nose Whip Snake
3) Brown Kutri (?)
Forgot to mention, one day I found 7 young Whip Snakes that must have hatched in the garden
Those are both neat observations.
Hi,
I have a snake on my roof in Bangkok . I am a bit scared . Could you help identify this snake ?
It’s urgent because I can’t go outside .
While you should be careful around any snake you can’t identify, remember that it won’t bother you if you don’t bother it. Make sure not to bother the snake and keep a safe distance (at least a full body length) away from the head, and you’ll be fine. But if you are too scared you can call the fire department to remove a snake.
Email me a picture if you need me to identify.
I got somebody got it for me.
I cannot send picture from here.
Thanks for this page, it gave me a positive ID on a snake I met today. I watched it go straight up a tree without bending at all. Amazing animal! glad I met it.
Located one in our garden hose holder consuming a gecko. Here in Cha Am. Have photos.
I just saw one here in Hua Hin. Great website!