The Green vine snake (Ahaetulla nasuta), is a slender green tree snake found in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is diurnal and mildly venomous, normally feeding on frogs and lizards. Green vine snakes are slow moving, relying on camouflaging as a vine in foliage to hunt.

The snake expands its body when disturbed to show a black and white scale marking. Also, they may open their mouth in threat display and point their head in the direction of the perceived threat. There is a widespread myth in parts of southern India that the species uses its pointed head to blind its human victims.

The species is viviparous, giving birth to young that grow within the body of the mother, enclosed within the egg membrane. Their venom is mild and causes swelling, with symptoms usually subsiding in three days. [Source: Wikipedia]

Regarding this wonderful shot, photographer Suhaas Premkumar states this is, “one of the most beautiful snakes I have found and shot so far, which is a photographer’s delight because of its vibrant colors and its posture, which is actually a self-defense posture.”