On Rossel Island, Kraus found Dendrelaphis melanarkys, or the black net tree snake. This 4-foot, 11-inch reptile is easier to ...

Herpetologist Fred Kraus discovered a new arboreal snake species, Dendrelaphis atra, on Misima Island in Papua New Guinea.

Fred Kraus was the visiting scientist on a mission to explore the habitats of the tree-dwelling snakes of the region, but as ...

The intriguing new species, spanning around four feet and one inch in length, was found to have a "matte black" coloring.

Unlike other related species, atra tree snakes darken in color as they age, Kraus said. A smaller, younger snake had a “gray brown” hue while older, larger snakes were “uniformly black.” ...

On an island in Papua New Guinea, a 3-foot-long creature with a black tongue made itself at home in a village garden — or it tried to, at least. Locals spotted the “smooth” animal and caught it. They ...

The Indian python faces extinction. Habitat loss and illegal trading are major threats. These snakes are also desired as ...

On a “misty mountain” in Sri Lanka, a 2-foot-long creature moved quickly through the trees and came to rest on a branch. Its ...