Dendrelaphis punctulatus
Silhouette: Alex Slavenko · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%
Dendrelaphis punctulatus, also known commonly as the Australian tree snake, the common tree snake, and the green tree snake, is a species of slender, large-eyed, diurnal, non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to many parts of Australia, especially in the northern and eastern coastal areas, and to Papua New Guinea.
It is an agile snake with a very slender body and tail and is also a strong swimmer, using the water for hunting and avoiding predation. The ventral body colour varies from golden yellow, to bright green, to olive-green, to black, sometimes even blue, while its back is typically dark in colour. It is frequently pale yellow on the throat and belly, but other pale colours have been noted. Blue flecks are present on the flanks. The eyes are large, with typically golden-coloured irises and large round pupils.
It is found in a variety of habitats ranging from rainforest to woodland to urban areas where it preys on fish, frogs, and other small animals. It is a non-venomous species and does not constrict its prey, but rather relies on its sharp, angled teeth to 'chew' its prey down the oesophagus.
A study of D. punctulatus in Queensland... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daintree National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Nitmiluk National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Kakadu National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Noosa National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Litchfield National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Springbrook National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Cairns Aquarium | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Black Treesnake sighting in Kakadu National Park on a given day, based on 21 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 15th most-seen of the 54 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
December
In that month about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Black Treesnake in Kakadu National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January and March, the lowest months. That is one of Kakadu National Park's wettest months, with about 250 mm of rain against almost none in August.
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black Treesnake sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
3rd of 9
Of the 9 parks where we can rate Black Treesnake sightings, Kakadu National Park ranks 3rd at about 20%. The best odds are in Daintree National Park (Australia, about 50%) and Nitmiluk National Park (Australia, about 30%). All parks ranked.
Same family: Colubridae
The closest relatives of the Black Treesnake that you can see in Kakadu National Park (family Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes) are Mair's Keelback (about 30%), Brown Tree Snake (about 30%) and Slaty-grey snake (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black Treesnake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Kakadu National Park (21 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
