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Definition of flying snake
flying snake
Plural:flying snakes
• noun
1
Any of several mildly venomous arboreal snakes of the genus Chrysopelea, native to the rainforests of South and Southeast Asia, characterized by their remarkable ability to glide long distances between trees by flattening their ribs into a concave shape.
Example
"While trekking through the dense jungles of Borneo, the researchers were fortunate enough to observe a flying snake launch itself from a high canopy branch and glide smoothly to a neighboring tree."
Word Nuance & Usage
Despite the literal meaning of their name, flying snakes do not achieve powered flight; they are gliders that launch themselves from trees and flatten their bodies to parachute to lower branches.
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Flying snake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/flying-snake