philippina is also known to be a parthenogenic species. Like its closest relative, the Oriental whipsnake ( Ahaetulla prasina), D. Small frogs, fishes and slugs may sometimes be consumed. Other prey may also be taken, given the opportunity. The keel-bellied whipsnake is a very specialized hunter, actively pursuing its prey that consists primarily of geckos and other lizards. A cathemeral species, it is active at both day and night. Although it is an arboreal snake, it prefers to roam open grounds and can often be seen on the forest floor, among leaf litter. An irate individual may sometimes show aggression by expanding its neck and showing the light colorations underneath, to make itself appear much bigger than it really is, but they will rarely bite. It can remain motionless for extended periods of time but usually it is always on the move. If the area where its residing is disturbed, it may spring up to flee, or remain very still. This species might need forest cover for refuge. On Panay it has been recorded within primary and secondary lowland tropical moist forests, and in areas nearby. The only snake besides the Dog-faced water snake, Cerberus rynchops and the sidewinder rattlesnake to do so.ĭryophiops philippina is endemic to the Philippines, where it is found in the islands of Luzon (including Bataan), Mindoro, Sibuyan, Panay and eastern Mindanao (Diuata Range). If alarmed, they quickly move in a sidewinding manner on the ground. The two species are almost identical except that D.philippina does not have a keeled belly. The scales on the top of the head are large, a feature that distinguishes this snake from Dryophiops rubescens.

There is one small scale on the face called the preocular scale, located in front of the eye and wedged between two other scales, called the upper labials. Its neck down to mid-body is yellow and the rest of the body is brown. The chin is white but can sometimes be yellow. The belly scutes have 15 scale rows at the midsection and have faint dark lines that give the impression that it is keeled. The dorsal scales are smooth, not keeled. It has a broad head, large eyes in proportion to the head, and a slender neck. Cream or white colored lateral stripes on each side are bisected by dark blackish lines, which are nearly continuous along the dorsolateral stripe. Coloration is dark brown or black, sometimes gray above as in the Dryophiops rubescens and often with a light green or pale blue flecks. One similar species, Dryophiops rubescens exists in Thailand and Malaysia. Dryophiops philippina, also known as the keel-bellied whipsnake or Philippine whipsnake, a species of rear-fanged colubrid snake that is endemic to the Philippines.

Brown snake with white stripes on head