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Chrysopelea is a genus of snakes, commonly known as flying snakes or gliding snakes, that belong to the family Colubridae. Chrysopelea species are found in Southeast Asia, and are known for their ability to glide between trees. Flying snakes are mildly venomous, though the venom is dangerous only to their small prey. There are five species within the genus.
| Image | Scientific name | Common name | Description | Distribution |
| | Chrysopelea ornata (Shaw, 1802) | Golden tree snake or ornate flying snake | This is the largest species of flying snake, reaching up to four feet in length. Though it is called the golden tree snake, there are other colour variations; for example, some phases tend to lean towards lime green in colour rather than pure yellow, while in India, it has orange to red markings and small black bars on the dorsum, almost as rich in colouration as the paradise tree snake. Due to their size, their gliding ability is considered weak. | South and Southeast Asia |
| | Chrysopelea paradisi (Boie and Boie, 1827) | Paradise tree snake | This flying snake species reaches up to three feet in length and is popular in the European pet trade. Their bodies are black, but covered in rich green scales. Clusters of red, orange, and yellow-coloured scales in the shape of flower petals line the dorsal area from the base of the neck to the tail. This is the most well known colouration, but some specimens may exhibit fully green colouration without any bright dorsal markings. Their gliding ability is considered one of the best among the flying snakes. | Southeastern Asia |
| | Chrysopelea pelias (Linnaeus, 1758) | Twin-barred tree snake or banded flying snake | This is the smallest flying snake species, reaching up to two feet in length. Its base colour is black or dark grey, and the entire body is covered with thick red and thin yellow with black bands. They also have cream-coloured ventrolateral lines, while the ventrals are pale green. While it is tiny, it is undoubtedly one of the rarest flying snake species within its range. Although it is able to move horizontally through the air when gliding, it does not glide as well as C. paradisi. | Southeast Asia |
| | Chrysopelea rhodopleuron (Boie, 1827) | Moluccan flying snake | Ambon and Sulawesi in Indonesia | |
| | Chrysopelea taprobanica (Smith, 1943) | Sri Lankan flying snake | Sri Lanka, Peninsular India |